Mildred Mary Lucille Kneifl

NEWCASTLE, Neb. -- Mildred Mary Lucille Kneifl, 89, of Newcastle passed away Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010, at Elms Care Center on Ponca, Neb.

Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Newcastle, with the Rev. David Liewer officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Newcastle. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Mildred was born April 22, 1921, on a farm near Goodwin, Neb. (rural Willis, Neb.), the daughter of Patrick and Elizabeth (McKivergan) Gormally Jr. When she was about 5 years old, the family moved to Jackson, Neb., where she attended and graduated from St. Catherine's Academy in 1939. She taught country school for one year at District 42 in Daily Township, Dixon County, Neb., and three years at the Rush School, between Ponca and Willis.

On Nov. 16, 1942, she married Thomas R. Kneifl at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Jackson.

She was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Newcastle, Sacred Heart Sodality and the American Legion Unit 162 for more than 49 years. She enjoyed sewing, gardening and baking. She devoted her time to her husband, children, home and church. She dearly loved babies and children. She also enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her two sons, Thomas P. and his wife, LouAnn and Bart and his wife, 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, Raymond Gormally and his wife, Eloise of Hubbard, Neb,; a sister, Monica and her husband, Gene Marron of Omaha; two brothers-in-law, Leonard O'Neill of Omaha and Mark Kneifl and his wife, Gayle of Newcastle; 15 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren with two on the way.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas on Aug. 17, 2010; her parents; a daughter, Mary Wellenstein on Nov. 16, 2009; an infant son, David; an infant grandson, Paul Jude Wellenstein; a brother, William Gormally; and three sisters, Mary (Leonard) O'Neill, Margaret (Art) Manley and Bonnie (Joe) Hayes (Ervin) Noecker.