Services For Hans Friedrich Kniep Were Held July 1

Hans Friedrich Kniep was born in Wohlde, Schleswig-Holstein Germany on October 21, 1882, to Andreas and Katharina (Schmidt) Kniep. Hans Friedrich, known to his friends and relatives as Fred or Fritz, was the youngest of nine children, seven girls and two boys.

Hans was baptized as an infant and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at the age of fifteen in the town of Bergenhusen. He was an active communing member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Bennington. Between the ages of fifteen and eighteen Fritz learned the blacksmith trade as an apprentice. He worked without pay and studied at a trade school. After learning the trade he worked for a couple of years.

At twenty he was drafted into the German army where he was in the heavy guard cavalry, getting his regular army training in the mornings and working as a blacksmith in the afternoons, another three years without pay. This service was in Potsdam. He was also a member of the uniformed First Lance Guard at Utan.

In the fall of 1909, Fritz came to the United States. He settled near Blair, Nebraska, where his brother Thomas was living. His sister, Tena, was living at Irvington.

Until 1911 he worked as a blacksmith in Kennard. Then he went to Arlington for a while after he spent several summers working in the Black Hills and in Canada where he was in 1914 when the World War I broke out.

He spent a number of years in Bennington working on automobiles at the John F. Petersen and Bert Seymour garages. In 1932 he returned to work in the blacksmith shop in Arlington, where up until a year ago, he still did some anvil and forge work. Fred became ill about five weeks ago. He was hospitalized at the Fremont Memorial Hospital with surgery. He passed away June 27, 1974, at the age of 91 years, 8 months and 6 days.

He is survived by 3 nieces, Edna Mohr, Bennington, Mrs. Elton (Anna) Edmondson, Mesa, Arizona, Mrs. Ted (Mabel) Witt, Elkhorn, Nebraska, 3 nephews – Henry Kneip of Kennard, Nebraska, Walter Kniep of Bridgewater, Iowa, and Charles Mohr of Bennington, Nebraska; 14 grand nieces and nephews in United States and 1 grand niece in Germany, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bennington on Monday, July 1st 2:00 p.m., with Pastor Norman Schroeder officiating. Ken Sukraw was the vocal soloist and sang “Beautiful Savior” and “I know that my Redeemer Lives”. Mrs. Ken Sukraw was the organist.

Casket bearers were Glen Mohr, Harry Teebken, Leonard Munk, Denny Witt, Lyle Mohr and Tim Kniep. The Interment was in the German Cemetery. The Hadan-Golden Mortuary was in charge of the arrangements.

Enterprise 4 Jul 1974

Services For Fritz Kniep Held July 1

Services for Fritz Kniep, of Arlington were held July 1 with the Bennington Hadan Golden Mortuary in charge of arrangements. The services were held at St. John’s Lutheran Church with Rev. Norman Schroeder officiating. Interment was in the German Cemetery.

Hans (Fritz) Kniep was a 91 year old and was a native of Germany. He served in the German Army and was the personal attendant to Kaiser Bill’s horses. Fritz was a blacksmith by trade and worked in Arlington at the Teebken blacksmith Shop until about one year ago.

He is survived by nieces, Edna Mohr of Bennington; Mrs. Elton (Anna) Edmondson of Mesa, Arizona; Mabel Witt of Elkhorn; nephews Henry Kniep of Kennard; Walter Kniep of Bridgewater; and Charles Mohr of Bennington.

The family suggests memorials to the St. John’s Lutheran Church Building or Memorial Fund of Bennington.

Note: Since the actual death date was not given, the services date was used.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~