Harold L Knipschild

Funeral services for Harold Knipschild will be held at St. John's Lutheran Church in Oxford, Nebraska on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend Dale Hedstrom officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be at the Oxford Cemetery.

Harold Louis Knipschild, 83 years of age, of Oxford, passed away on Friday, December 30, 2011 at his home in Oxford. He was born on June 11, 1928 on the family farm northwest of Oxford, NE the oldest of three children born to August and Jane (Wall) Knipschild. Harold attended primary school at New Era District #14, kindergarten to 8th grade and graduated from Oxford High School with the Class of 1945.

After graduation, Harold traveled to Omaha, NE and worked for the Good Year Tire Company for two years. In February of 1949, he entered in to the United States Air Force. His career field was Weapons Maintenance Supervisor. He served tours in the continental United States, Okinawa, Japan, and served in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive from 1967 to 1968. Harold retired as a Technical Sergeant in September of 1969, after 20 years of service to his country.


In March of 1954, Harold was united in marriage to Dorothy Craven, in a gas station in Denver, Colorado. To this union, three children were born: Ramona Kay, Henry Otto and Patty Jane. After retirement from the service, the family made their home in Oxford, NE. Harold owned and operated the local Phillips 66 and later the Oxford Ready Mix. Once he retired, he still kept working on vehicles for others in Dad's Shop.

Harold was a member of the St. John's Lutheran Church, the VFW and American Legion Post #219. He loved all his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved to hold his babies on his lap and play with them. Harold enjoyed playing pinochle and visiting with family and friends. He loved to travel and made it his goal to see all 50 states, which he accomplished. He traveled the world to visit his son's family in Europe, Guam and also traveled to Australia.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Merlin.

He leaves to mourn his wife, Dorothy of 57 years, daughters, Ramona Jones and her husband, Michael of Oxford and Patty Schelling of Kearney, NE; son, Henry Knipschild and his wife, Yvonne of Warner Robins, Georgia, six grandchildren, Shelly Goodon and her husband George of Hastings, NE, Jonathon Schelling of Kearney, Niklas Knipschild of Daegu, South Korea, Ashley Wagnitz and her husband, Keith of Gibbon, NE, Brooke Schelling of Kearney, NE, and Raven Knipschild of Warner Robins, GA, four great-grandchildren, Breanna and Rachel Goodon of Hastings, NE,
Ethan and Karson Wagnitz of Gibbon, NE, and brother Gilbert Knipschild and his wife, Joan of Tuttle, Oklahoma, along with several nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be held at the Mitchell-Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Oxford, NE on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the family greeting friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Memorials may be sent to the Granada Theater in his memory.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.