Schnepf, John 1921-2014

SCHNEPF, ALESCH, PUETZ

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 1/29/2015 at 16:49:08

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, Tuesday, July 15, 2014

John M. Schnepf, 92, of Omaha, Neb., and formerly of Le Mars, died Saturday, July 12, 2014, at the Josie Harper Hospice House in Omaha.

John M. Schnepf was born Dec. 19, 1921, on a farm near Oyens, to George and Elvira (Alesch) Schnepf. At the age of 1 the family moved to a farm south of Le Mars.
He received his education at a country school in America Township and St. Joseph Catholic School in Le Mars and graduated from Le Mars Central High School in 1942. John served his country during World War II in the Army Air Force in the Aleutian Islands for 22 months as a P-38 Crew Chief. He entered the service on June 22, 1942, and was honorably discharged on Nov. 12, 1945 as a Staff Sergeant.

John was married to Maxine Puetz on May 12, 1945, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Le Mars. They took the military troop train, stopping at the community canteens, to Chico, Calif., where John was stationed until the end of the war. The last 12 weeks in the service, John was transferred to different P-38 training fields in the process of closing airfields.

In 1946 John and Maxine started farming east of Le Mars and in 1948 moved west of Le Mars to farm. In 1952 they purchased a farm south of Le Mars and farmed there for 30 years and raised six children.

In 1982 they built a new home south of Le Mars and continued farming until 1992 when John retired after a total of 46 years of farming.

John served as Soil Conservation Commissioner for 12 years and a volunteer for laying out contour lines. He was also on the Plymouth County Fair Board representing both the Extension Service and the Soil Conservation for 18 years. He was awarded plaques for service in state and county soil conservation projects, outstanding service award to agriculture from Farm Bureau, and an outstanding volunteer award from the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce.

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Wasmer American Legion Post #241, Plymouth County Fair Board, Plymouth County Historical Museum, Town and Country Toy Club, and the Pioneer Christmas Village.

During retirement, John enjoyed making wooden farm toys and buildings, helped with farming, raised ponies, participated in parades and fair events, enjoyed traveling with his wife in both the United States and abroad, and spending time with his family and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Maxine (Puetz) Schnepf, of Omaha; his six children: a son, Ted Schnepf and his wife Sharon, of Elgin, Ill., a daughter, Mary Dickerson and her husband John, of Omaha, Neb., a daughter, Kay Schnepf, of The Villages, Fla., a son, Ken Schnepf and his wife Karen, of Omaha, a daughter, Betty Hanscum and her husband Jon, of Kansas City, Kan., and a daughter, Ann Schnepf, of Urbandale; four grandchildren: Matt Schnepf, Christa Cottam, Ellie Steinbrink, and T.J. Hanscum; five great-grandchildren: Maggie and Lucy Cottam, Owen and Alastair Schnepf, and Livie Steinbrink; a brother, Karl Schnepf and his wife Joan, of Le Mars; a sister, Paula Uhrig, of Gainesville, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents, George and Elvira (Alesch) Schnepf; and two sisters, Georgia Schnepf and Margaret Flinn.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Le Mars. Interment with military honors provided by the Wasmer American Legion Post #241 of Le Mars will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will be after 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Carlsen-Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars, followed by a 6:30 p.m. combined scriptural wake service and Knights of Columbus rosary. Visitation will continue Thursday morning at the church from 9:30 a.m. until service time.

Pallbearers will be Matt Schnepf, T.J. Hanscum, Steve Cottam, Buster Flinn, Pat Flinn, and George Schnepf.

Arrangements are with the Carlsen-Feuerstein Funeral Home, of Le Mars.
Memorials can be directed to St. Joseph Catholic Church or the Plymouth County Historical Museum.