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Thomas Robert “Tom” Kneifl

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Birth	:	15 Mar 1920 Newcastle, Dixon County, Nebraska, USA
Death	:	17 Aug 2010 Newcastle, Dixon County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Mount Sinai AME Zion Church Cemetery, Elgin, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate	:	34.2378250, -80.7930900
Description	:	~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sources: National Archives; family trees within Ancestry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~∼On March 15, 1920, a blue-green eyed, brown haired boy was born to Mary Magdalene (Pletsch) and Gregory James Kneifl. He was the youngest of the family and was named after his grandfather's brother, Thomas Kneifl of St. Joseph Ridge, WI. Thomas was delivered in the bedroom of his parents' home (a house Thomas was born raised and lived in until his death). The doctor, Dr. Talboy came to the house driving a horse drawn road cart as the mud was so deep. ... Read More	~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sources: National Archives; family trees within Ancestry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~∼On March 15, 1920, a blue-green eyed, brown haired boy was born to Mary Magdalene (Pletsch) and Gregory James Kneifl. He was the youngest of the family and was named after his grandfather's brother, Thomas Kneifl of St. Joseph Ridge, WI. Thomas was delivered in the bedroom of his parents' home (a house Thomas was born raised and lived in until his death). The doctor, Dr. Talboy came to the house driving a horse drawn road cart as the mud was so deep. As Thomas grew up people said he looked like his mother and he soon adopted the nickname "Tommy". Tom & his siblings and friends played tag, flew kites, played baseball, pump-pump pull away, dug caves, and built swings and treehouses. He caught lightning bugs, collected rocks and Indian arrowheads. A nearby creek served as a place to swim and in the winter became a place to ice skate. As a boy, Tom Beacom owned the store in town and would give Tommy a piece of 1 cent candy because they shared the same name. Tom remembers sitting in the third row in church every Sunday. Church was important to the Kneifl family - Tom's parents - Greg & Mary- donated the cross that stands in the St. Peter's Calvary Cemetery in Newcastle, NE. Tom remembers horses on the farm, but never had a saddle horse. The first Christmas Tom remembers they had Christmas dinner, but doesn't remember a tree. Times were hard back then and they didn't expect toys for presents. There was always lots of snow in the winter and they could sleigh ride and ice skate. There wasn't a tooth fairy and no fireworks on the 4th of July. Tom had to milk cows, feed the chickens and bring in the firewood. He went to District 73 Rural School (which he later taught himself). He walked a mile and a quarter to school every day. As a family they used to go to fairs, family reunions, church picnics and fishing. When Tom was a baby, the rest of the kids had scarlet fever and were all sent away until they were better. Tom had his tonsils out when he was in first grade and spent time recuperating with his Grandma Pletsch in Sioux City, IA. In 5th grade, Tom contracted scarlet fever and his feet began to peel. He missed two months of school and when he was a junior his dr. ut himin bed with an enlarged heart. Tom would meet Mildred Gormally from Jackson, NE when she was about 16 or 17 years old. Frances Richards had a cousin (Margaret Richards) that lived in Jackson who was Mildred's best friend. Tom & Mildred were introduced by Margaret Richards Graber. Tom was out of high school when he met Mildred and she was at the end of her junior year. Their first date was at a dance in Jackson. On their 2nd date, Tom rode up to Mildred's house to find her mother sitting outside and asked if it was all right if he took Milderd to a dance. (He said he was scared to death of the Eagle Eye!) Elizabeth said it was ok as long as Mary (Mildred's older sister) said it was ok. They went to Riverview Park which had rides, picnic areas and a riverboat. They went on a ride called the rocket and Tom got sick and threw up. They played Bingo after this. When Mildred & Tom were dating she became ill - which she hardly ever did. She had fainted and woke up to find out she had mumps - which she shared with Tom. Mildred would eventually take her C-Normal training and became a teacher. She took a job in rural Dixon, NE at the age of 18. Tom was in his 2nd year of teaching when the service called. He would come back to see Mildred as often as he could. Tom raised a few chickens on the side and eventually sold the flock for $100 and used the money to buy an engagement and wedding ring set. In November 1942, Tom was given a week furlough. He came home to Nebraska and on November 16, 1942 at 9 am, Tom & Mildred were married at Jackson, NE. It was a small wedding, with Mildred wearing a brown dress due to war-time rations. They honeymooned in Sioux Falls, SD. Anyone getting married could get a 15 day furlough - Tom took 17 days. If he had been discovered late, he would've been considered AWOL - luckily the men in his group covered for him. It was a difficult time for small communities with their boys going off to the service. Tom's brothers stayed and farmed while Tom joined the service. Tom enlisted on March 6, 1942 along with several other men from Newcastle. They were sent to Fort Riley, KS and then to Des Moines, IA where they got ice cream daily and then mutton. Tom was entered into the Medics and was sent to Fort Lewis, Washington. After basic training he was on the gun crew for one day. As a Medic he worked in the Dispensory where they would treat patients or send them to the hospital. He worked as an Ambulance Driver making 4 trips a week over Mt. Rainier on Naches Pass. After that he worked as a Dental Technician. In April of 1943 Tom aws transferred to Camp Granite in the dessert near Twenty Nine Palms, CA. He was next transferred to Needles, CA. Tom was discharged in 1943 and he and Mildred returned to Nebraska. Mildred and Tom took jobs at Swift's Meat Packing Plant in Sioux City, Iowa and rented an apartment there. In the spring they moved back to the family farm southwest of Newcastle, NE. They lived with Tom's parents. Tom wanted to go back to the state of Washington where he had served in the army, but his mom was sick and had asked him to come back to the farm. Tom's mom, Mary Magdalene Pletsch Kneifl, taught Mildred how to cook. When Mildred first made scrambled eggs for Tom, he nearly puked. In town, Mildred would just pour milk or water and whip it into the eggs and cook them. This was the way to make eggs go further. Tom explained that he was used to eggs mixed with a little water and cut up in chunks in the pan. With the birth of Tom & Mildred's eldest child, Thomas Patrick, the eggs came back to haunt Mildred. Tom's niece stayed to help with the newborn and had been taught the Kneifl way to make eggs. Tom said "That's how to make eggs!" OBITUARY: 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.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Thomas Robert “Tom” Kneifl's memorial?
Thomas Robert “Tom” Kneifl's memorial is located at: Mount Sinai AME Zion Church Cemetery, Elgin, Kershaw County, USA.
When did Thomas Robert “Tom” Kneifl death?
Thomas Robert “Tom” Kneifl death on 17 Aug 2010 in Newcastle, Dixon County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Thomas Robert “Tom” Kneifl's memorial?
Latitude: 34.2378250
Longitude: -80.7930900

Family Members:

Parent

Gregory James Kneifl

(1874 - 1956)

Mary Magdaline Pletsch Kneifl

(1880 - 1944)

Spouse

Mildred Mary Lucille Gormally Kneifl

(1921 - 2010)

Siblings

Alice M. Kneifl Dougherty

(1906 - 1965)

Frances Mary Kneifl Armstrong

(1910 - 2005)

Dorothy Kneifl

(1912 - 1913)

Paul Joseph Kneifl

(1916 - 1986)

Mark David Kneifl Sr.

(1918 - 2011)

Children

Mary Margaret Kneifl Wellenstein

(1946 - 2009)

David Kneifl

(1957 - 1957)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Mount Sinai AME Zion Church Cemetery
Elgin, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2378250, -80.7930900

2. Addison Family Cemetery
Elgin, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2370280, -80.7938040

3. Shady Grove AME Church Cemetery
Elgin, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2388170, -80.7927000

4. Fort Clark Baptist Church Cemetery
Elgin, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2361360, -80.7975570

5. Tillman-Dean Family Cemetery
Elgin, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2273340, -80.8169150

6. Disher Cemetery
Elgin, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2040740, -80.7905230

7. God's Lighthouse Church Cemetery
Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2038260, -80.7771860

8. Branham-Hayes Cemetery
Elgin, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2697720, -80.8214910

9. Smyrna United Methodist Church Cemetery
Elgin, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2698560, -80.8216340

10. Rock Hill Methodist Church Cemetery #1
Elgin, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1981280, -80.8098990

11. Gettys Family Cemetery
Lugoff, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2434680, -80.7426190

12. James Chapel AME Zion Church Cemetery
Lugoff, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2805500, -80.7955500

13. Union Baptist Church Cemetery
Elgin, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1960983, -80.7817001

14. Rock Hopewell A.M.E Church Cemetery
Elgin, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1948780, -80.7992090

15. Branham Family Cemetery
Lugoff, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2862060, -80.7850030

16. Sutton Branch Baptist Church Cemetery
Lugoff, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2837040, -80.7599710

17. Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery
Elgin, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2071880, -80.8490220

18. High Hill Baptist Church Cemetery
Lugoff, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1820200, -80.7663800

19. Pine Grove Cemetery
Lugoff, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2736015, -80.7296982

20. Rose Family Cemetery
Elgin, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1746000, -80.8101000

21. Hardshell Cemetery
Lugoff, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.2938157, -80.7523432

22. New Jerusalem Holiness Church Cemetery
Lugoff, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1737500, -80.7714700

23. Elizabeth Goff Family Cemetery
Elgin, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1708298, -80.7944412

24. Blaney Baptist Church Cemetery
Elgin, Kershaw County, USA
Coordinate: 34.1683330, -80.7916670