KENNETH R. NIEDFELDT

Kenneth R. Niedfeldt, 85, of Madison, NE (formerly of Columbus) died Friday, May 1, 2015 at Countryside Homes in Madison. He was born Dec. 24, 1929, near Falls City to Albert and Anna (Grossoehmig) Niedfeldt, Sr.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 6, at Peace Lutheran Church, with Rev. Michael Klatt and Rev. Cory Burma officiating. Interment will be in Roselawn Memorial Cemetery in Columbus. Military honors will be given by the American Legion Hartman Post No. 84 Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday at Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday at the church.

Ken was baptized on Jan. 12, 1930 and reaffirmed his Christian faith through confirmation on April 18, 1943, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Falls City. He graduated from Falls City High School in May 1947 and on Sept. 21, 1951, entered the US Air Force, serving during the Korean War.

On June 15, 1952, Ken was united in marriage to Janice Krueger at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Falls City.

During Ken’s years of military service he was stationed in Texas, Illinois, Washington, British Columbia, Canada and Omaha. It was during his military years that Ken attended electronics school in St. Louis, MO, in 1952. Upon his honorable discharge on Sept. 26, 1955, the couple moved back to the FC area and made their home near Verdon, where Ken engaged in farming.

While living near Verdon, Ken was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church where he sang in the church choir, served as church secretary and Sunday School Superintendent, and was a member of the school board and the Lutheran Laymen’s League. Ken owned and operated Ken’s CB Center and worked at a local television repair shop in Falls City, in addition to farming. In 1969, the family moved to Columbus, where Ken worked for Norvin Schwank until buying the Motorola business from him in 1973, when he and Janice started Mid-Nebraska Communications, Inc. Ken, Janice, and their employees sold and maintained communication equipment for local government agencies, hospitals, power companies, farmers, and various other businesses. Ken and Janice also owned Niedfeldt Towers, Inc., which rented space on 12 towers to cellular companies, internet providers, power companies, and small businesses.

Ken and Janice faithfully attended countless concerts, dance recitals, sporting events, and plays in which their grandchildren were involved. They enjoyed traveling throughout the country. Ken was a licensed pilot and enjoyed many hours of flying his single engine Cessna Cherokee airplane.

He was a past member of Christ Lutheran Church, where he served as an elder for eight years, greeter, and was a member of the Lutheran Laymen’s League, where he served in leadership positions on a local and statewide level. Ken served on the Nebraska District – LCMS Board of Directors at Seward for six years. He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Columbus.

He is survived by daughters, Susan (Evan) Wilke, of Columbus, Cindy (Larry) Zimmer, of Bellwood, NE, and Vicky (Glenn) Van Velson, of North Platte; grandchildren, Nathaniel Wilke, of Waterford, MI, Laura (fiancé, Phil Krueger) Wilke, of Portland, OR, Stephen (Carolyn) Wilke, of Evanston, IL, Melissa Wilke, of Louisville, TX, Brian (Angie) Zimmer, of Lincoln; Amy (Jonathan) Schultz of Vernal, UT, and Andrew (fiancée Heather Proskocil) Van Velson, of Lincoln; great-grandchildren, Joshua, Isaac, Samuel and Rachel Schultz, of Vernal, UT; brother, Harold (Joann) Niedfeldt, of FC; sisters, Evelyn Wissmann, of FC, Eileen (Lyle) Hall, of Waverly, and Elaine (Dale) Nispel, of Kearney; sisters-in-law, Jean (Mrs. Glenn) Niedfeldt, and Marcella (Mrs. Albert), both of FC; numerous nieces and nephews.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Janice; brothers, Albert Jr., and Glenn Niedfeldt.

Condolences may be sent to www.gasshaney.com