Albert Martin Knittel, of Gregory, died May 13, 2011, at the age of 84 years. He was born September 26, 1926, to Jacob and Bertha (Esterling) Knittel on the family farm two and a half miles northeast of Dallas, SD. He attended grade school at Dallas, graduating from the eighth grade in 1940. He worked for area farmers as a hired hand until he took a job at the Dallas Elevator at the age of 15.
After his mother's death in 1943 he moved to the Wayne, NE, area to live with his sister Theresa and her husband John Hanson and their family. It was here that he met his future wife, Genevieve Kardell, who lived in that area.
World War II was still going strong at this time and when Albert reached his 18th birthday in September, 1944, he enlisted in the US Army. Albert was inducted into the service on December 19, 1944, at Fort Leavenworth, KS. Basic training was completed at Camp Fannin, TX. After a short furlough at home he was sent to Fort Meade, MD, for more training in preparation to be deployed to Europe. However, before those plans were carried out, the war in Europe ended and Albert's orders changed. He was then sent to California and assigned to the 25th Infantry Division. This division was sent the Philippine Island of Luzon, where his main assignment was to transport the General from place to place. After a 30-day stay on Luzon his division boarded a troop ship with orders to take Japan. While on board ship the atomic bomb was dropped, ending the war. He was then stationed in Japan with the occupational forces until October of 1946, and honorably discharged in December 1946.
Before leaving Japan, Albert sent home a bolt of pure white silk material to be made into a wedding gown for his future bride. Albert and Genevieve were married on April 26, 1947, in Concord, NE. They began their farming career near Wayne, NE.
In 1956 they purchased a farm north of Gregory, SD, which has been their home since that time.
Albert was known in this area for his concertina music--a skill that he developed at a young age. He and his brothers provided music for many area dances.
Albert served on the local school board for nine years. He was associated with ASCS for many years. He began in 1956 as a field reporter and community committeeman. He was elected to the county committee in 1981, and began serving in this capacity in 1982. He was elected to three consecutive three year terms, making him ineligible to serve longer. He was a DeKalb seed dealer for 47 years, retiring in 2005. He retired from farming in 1993.
Albert persevered through many hardships including health problems, nature's wrath and a fire that destroyed the family home in 1979.
A recent highlight in Albert's life was traveling to Washington, DC, on the Honor Flight in October 2010, to view the WWII memorial.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Genevieve; all eight of his children--five sons and three daughters: Dale (Donna) of Boise, ID, Loren (Linda) of Spearfish, SD,Dennis of Gregory, Susan (Jeff Neiger) of Aberdeen, SD, Cindy Edwards of Pittsburg, PA, June (John Allen) of Hays, KS, Steven (Terha) of Augusta, GA, and Jeffrey (Shelly) of Parkville, MO; and eight grandsons: Michael Knittel, Bryce and Brent Neiger, Benjamin Johnson, Sasha, Collin, and Kyle Knittel, and Jacob Knittel; and nine granddaughters: Sera and Kathryn Knittel, Steffanie Morrison, Julie Boyle, Katie Grant, Breanne Neiger, Josie Thompson, Jessalyn Allen, and Sydney Knittel; and eight great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Preceding him in death were his parents; all of his siblings--sisters: Clara, Alvina, Elsie, Theresa, and Esther; and his brothers: Edward, Theodore, Reuben, Jacob, and infant brother Robert; also an infant great-grandson Blair Neiger.
Funeral Services for Albert will be held on Thursday morning at St. John Lutheran Church in Gregory. A prayer service will be Wednesday at the church. Burial with military honors will be in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery.