Charles W. Kniebel

HERINGTON - OBITUARY FOR – Charles W. Kniebel, 85,

Charles Wayne Kniebel passed gracefully to heaven on Thursday, January 28th, 2016, with family at his side.  Charles was proud to be known as C.W. Kniebel.  He was the 3rd generation of the Kniebel’s to till the soil and raise his family as a farmer/rancher.  He had an extremely short bout with pancreatic/liver cancer.

Charles was born to Carl and Amanda (Lawrenz) Kniebel on December 21, 1930.  He was the 3rd born with 3 sisters; Arlene, Twila, and Lois.  He was the only heir namesake to carry on the family name.  Charles was baptized on a cold January day in 1931 at the St. John’s Lutheran Church, White City.  He was confirmed May 27, 1945.  Charles attended 1st-8th grade at Baxter School riding his pony with his sister Twila to school.  He enjoyed his high school years at White City High School graduating in 1948.

Charles was drafted into the Army in 1954 attending Basic Training in El Paso, Texas.  He was lucky to return home with a short stay and resume farming on the homestead west of White City with his father.

His passion for farming brought him interest in enjoying a farming class with other young farmers around the area.  He was meticulous at sowing a crop with the straightest rows, but the biggest bit of pride was driving the Case International 4-Wheel drive tractor.  As much as he loved tilling the soil, his favorite highlight of farming were feeding his cattle and watching them grow from birth to finish.  The most unique aspect of Kniebel Farms was that they never sold calves, always finished cattle, for 5 generations!

Charles was united in marriage with Donna Jean Ruppel on December 7, 1958, in Herington, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.  This union was blessed with three children; Kim, Kevin, and Chuck.  Donna preceded in death in 1990.

Charles was united in marriage to Mona Mae McDiffett on November 6, 1998, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Shady Brook, of Woodbine.  They enjoyed 17 years of marriage while he still farmed with his sons.  They both cherished their bus trips and casino trips together making new friends.

Charles leaves his sons Kevin and Chuck to carry on the legacy with the land and cattle.  Charles and Donna received two Soil Conservation Awards in the 31 years of marriage.  There was also another Conservation Award for Charles and Mona, Kevin, Maryann, Chuck and Kim and families, along with the prestigious Beef Improvement Federation Commercial Producer of the Year, 2008. 

Charles will be greatly missed by his widow Mona Mae, his daughter Kim (Alan) Bontrager: especially by his sons whom he worked with daily; Kevin (Maryann) Kniebel; Chuck (Kim) Kniebel.  He leaves six grandchildren Amanda (Thad) Julian, Chelsey (Tanner) Stucky, Cassandra Kniebel, Clayton Kniebel, Spencer Bontrager, and Ali Bontrager.  He also was blessed with 2 great grandsons, Connor Julian and Bentley Kniebel.  Charles is survived by a sister Lois (Jack) Webb and many nieces and nephews.

Charles is also survived by his extended family of step-children; Kayla (Bob) Dieball; Greg (Linda) McDiffett; and step-grandchildren Callea and Chad Briener; Cory and Sally Dieball; Shannon and John Wertzberger; Rusty and Pam McDiffett, and Jake McDiffett.  Step-great grandchildren; Karsten and Kasen Briener; Taylor and Cole Dieball, Maddie and Mitchell Wertzberger, and Casey and Chase McDiffett.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents; wife Donna, grandson Chase Kniebel, along with his sisters Arleen Johnson and Twila Theel.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00a.m., Monday, February 1st, 2016, at the Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Herington, with Rev. Troy Slater, officiating.  Burial will follow at the St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, White City.  A prayer service will be held at the church, Sunday evening at 7:00 pm.  The services are under the direction of the Zeiner Funeral Home, Herington Chapel.

The family requests memorials to the St. John’s Cemetery Fund, or the Good Shepherd Hospice House of Manhattan or Our Redeemer Lutheran Church; and may be sent in care of the Zeiner Funeral Home-Herington Chapel,  404 S. Broadway, Herington, KS 67449-3038.