David Knodel --  1982

        Funeral services were conducted for David Knodel Tuesday, March 9, at 10:30 am, with Rev. Howard Johnson officiating.  Song selections were "Sheltered in the Arms of God" and "In the Garden."
        Singers were the Hope Messengers and organists were Velda Adolf and Delores Dobler.   Casket bearers were Douglas White, Spike Burrows, Ronald Gramm, Mark David White, Jim Enyart, Edwin Crammer, George Gramm, James David Faughn.  Hendricks Mortuary was in charge of the arrangements with burial at Hope Cemetery, Bethune.
        David Knodel was born May 9, 1898, in Josephdorf, Russia.  He was the son of Gottlieb and Christina Gehner Knodel.  He was baptized in infancy.  His family came to the United States in December of 1906, when David was 8 years old.  They settled in Bethune, where he grew up as a young man.  He was confirmed at the Congregational Church, Aug. 31, 1913, by Rev. Carl Himmelman.
        In the summer of 1913, 15-year old David worked for his sister and husband in Russell, Kan.  One afternoon while herding cattle and daydreaming about his sweetheart, Mollie, David engraved his name on a stone fence post.  It was discovered by his nephew, Martin Krug, four years ago, at which time he brought it back to Colorado, and gave it to David, for his 80th birthday.  It has been placed at the church cemetery, to be used as his headstone, at his request.
        David also engraved Mollie's name on a stone fence post, and it is in Cheyenne, Wyo., on martin's ranch.  It, too, will be brought here.
        David was married Dec. 28, 1919, to Mollie Mai in Russell, Kan.  David and Mollie settled on a farm northwest of Bethune.  To this union was born five children:  Fern, Louis, Elnoria, Charlotte and Linda.  He retired from the farm in 1947, when his health failed.  David and Mollie then moved to Loveland where he was employed by the City of Loveland for 15 years.
        In 1973 David and Mollie moved back to Burlington.  Once again, David's health failed, and they returned to Loveland to the Good Samaritan Home in 1980.  David and Mollie celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary, Dec. 28, 1981. On Feb. 22, 1982, David was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia, where he passed away March 6.
        David was the grandfather of 13 children, the great-grandfather of five.  He has one surviving brother, Ed, of Burlington; one surviving sister, Eva, of Loveland, and many nieces and nephews.  He is also survived by his wife, Mollie, the mother of his children.
        Preceding him in death were his mother and father; two sisters and three brothers.  David was 83 years, 9 months and 25 days old at the time of his death.