Thomas R. Kneifl

NEWCASTLE, Neb. -- Thomas Robert Kneifl, 90, of Newcastle died Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Newcastle, with the Rev. David Liewer officiating. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Newcastle. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Newcastle. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City.

Thomas was born March 15, 1920, on a farm near Newcastle, the son of Gregory and Mary (Pletsch) Kneifl. He was raised on the farm and attended District 73 country school and graduated from high school in 1937. He taught school at District 73 for three years prior to enlisting in the U.S. Army on March 6, 1942. He was the first Kneifl from the area to enter the service. He was a medic, ambulance driver and dental technician in the Army.

On Nov. 16, 1942, he married Mildred Gormally at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Jackson, Neb. He and Mildred farmed the family farm and they remained there following their retirement.

He was a member of St. Peter's Church in Newcastle and a member of the American Legion Laurence Lofgren Post 62 for more than 62 years. He was an avid reader and enjoyed watching sports. He had a great love for fireworks, good candy and mowing his large yard. He devoted time to his wife, children, church and farm. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Mildred of Elms Care Center in Ponca; two sons, Thomas P and his wife, LouAnn, and Bart and Chris, all of Newcastle; two daughters, Joan Vance of Omaha, and Ann and her husband, Larry Guenther of Arvada, Colo.; a son-in-law, Bill Wellenstein of Ponca, Neb.; a brother, Mark and his wife, Gayle of Newcastle; a brother-in-law, Raymond Gormally and his wife, Eloise of Hubbard, Neb.; a sister-in-law, Monica and her husband, Gene Marron of Omaha; a brother-in-law, Leonard O'Neill of Omaha; 15 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren with two on the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Mary Wellenstein on Nov. 16, 2009; an infant son, David; an infant grandson, Paul Jude Wellenstein; two brothers, Greg Jr. and Paul; and three sisters, Alice (Jack) Dougherty, Frances (Gerald) Armstrong, and infant sister, Dorothy Kneifl.

Pallbearers will be Brian Wellenstein, Greg Kneifl, Bob Hayes, Ash Guenther, Seth Guenther, and Kyle Guenther. Honorary pallbearers will be Thomas's grandchildren.

Memorials may be directed to the family.