Alfred Knief (1920-2007)

KNIEF, BUSS, GIFFORD, TRANTER, WEEKS, GESKE, GROHN, BARTZ, STEEGE

Posted By: Dorothy Gosse (email)
Date: 12/7/2007 at 16:32:38

OELWEIN — Alfred L. Knief, 87, of Mesa, Arizona and formerly of Oelwein, Iowa died on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007 at the Mesa Evergreen Christian Care Center at Mesa, Arizona after a short illness.

A private family graveside service will be Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007, followed by a Public Memorial Reception with the Family from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, also, at the Oelwein Community Center, Oelwein.

Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery at Oelwein.

Memorials may be given in his name to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 East Flower St., Phoenix, Arizona 85014.

Alfred is survived by four daughters, Mary Lou (Mrs. Leon) Buss of Dundus, Minn., Barbara (Mrs. Paul) Gifford of Eden Prairie, Minn., Rebecca (Mrs. Paul) Tranter of Marion, Julie (Mrs. Craig) Weeks of Slater; two sons, Richard Knief of Hudson, and Robert (wife-Holly) Knief of Sioux City; 13 grandchildren and 12 Great Grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Bernida Elizabeth Knief on Jan. 12, 2000; a son, Mark A. Knief on July 23, 1984, sisters Erna Geske and Elda Grohn; and a brother, Martin Knief.

Alfred Louis Knief was born on Feb. 20, 1920 at Westgate, the son of Theodor and Anna (Bartz) Knief. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Westgate. Al graduated from Maynard High School at Maynard. He married Bernida Elizabeth Steege on Jan. 16, 1944 at Sumner.

Bernida died on Jan. 12, 2000. Al owned and operated a car dealership in Maynard, before moving to Oelwein in 1959 where he owned and operated Knief Plymouth-Chrylser-Dodge and American Motors for many years.

He was a former member of Zion Lutheran Church and Peace Lutheran Church in Oelwein. Al and Bernida moved from Oelwein to Mesa, Arizona in 1987.

Oelwein Daily Register - 30 Nov 2007