Orin Jeremiah “Jerry” Knerl - 1922 - 1999

KNERL, DAVEY, DUFFY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 7/4/2019 at 23:56:58

Sioux City Journal
20 November 1999

Ponca, Nebraska –Orin Jeremiah “Jerry” Knerl, 77, of Sioux City, formerly of Ponca, died Wednesday November 17, 1999 at a Sioux City hospital following a lengthy illness.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ponca, with the Rev. James Bartak officiating. Burial will be in Calvary at South Creek Cemetery, rural Ponca. Visitation with the family present will begin at 4 p.m. Sunday, with a knights of Columbus rosary at 5 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m. at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Mohr Funeral Home in Ponca.

Mr. Knerl was born February 9, 1922, in Sioux City, the son of Orin Nelson and Bonnie (Davey) Knerl. He was raised in Ponca and graduated from Ponca High School in 1939. He served for four years in the U.S. Navy during World War II in Washington D. C. and the Aleutian Islands. Following the war, he was employed in the office of the Naval Advisor in Berlin, Germany for 27 months.

He married Margaret Duffy on October 7, 1957 in Sioux City. He was employed as a bookkeeper and office manager with O.N. Knerl and Sons Ford Dealership in Ponca. In 1995, the couple moved to Sioux City.

He served on the local Selective Service Board as treasurer of Ponca Historical Society and on the board of supervisors for Dixon County, Nebraska.

While living in Ponca, he was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, where he served as organist choir director, arranged flowers and was on the cemetery committee. While living in Sioux City, he was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. He was a member of Knights of Columbus and American Legion.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Molly Northrup of Birmingham, Alabama, a grandson, Jim Northrup, two brothers and their wives, Phil and Pat and Bob and Norma, all of Ponca; two sisters and their husbands, Mary Ann and Tom Wente and Jo Ellen and Bill Treinen all of Sioux City and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Bonnie Beth Knerl and a brother, Jack.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Jeff Knerl, Kelly Knerl, Dr. T.J. Wente, Matt Treinen, Paul Treinen, Dan Knerl, Richard Dohma and John Davey.

Memorials may be directed to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church or Ponca Educational Foundation.