Ernest G. Knoedler was born in Hohnweiler, Wurtemburg, Germany, May 28, 1876. When a lad fourteen years of age he was confirmed and baptized in the German Lutheran Church. At the age of sixteen years he immigrated to America, and for a short time made his home with his sister, Mrs. Boerkircher at Eustis, Nebraska. In 1897 he volunteered and enlisted in Company C, 1st Regiment of Wyoming Infantry Volunteers. For nearly a year and a half he served in the Philippine Islands. In his veins flowed the blood of a real patriotic hero, for remember he was a young man, less than a decade of years from Germany when he volunteered in the service of our country. Because of sickness contracted in the Philippines, he was given an honorable discharge from the army, September 23, 1899 at San Francisco, California.

Upon his return he again made his home at Eustis with his brother, William, and was very ill for a period of nearly two years, and the greater part of this time his life hung in the balance.

February 19, 1901 he was united in marriage with Anna Hirschmiller, and to this union were born nine children, five sons and four daughters. One baby Florence preceeded him to the land that knows no separations about a year ago. He leaves to mourn his sudden departure from this life, his wife Anna and the following children: John, Clara, Elmer, Roy, Viola, Harry, Hazel and Benjamin, all residing at home. Besides the above mentioned an aged mother, one brother and one sister in Germany, and four brothers and two sisters in America. His father died in Germany about two years ago.

Mr. Knoedler has never been fully well since he contracted the disease in the Spanish–American war, and last Thursday afternoon had his final attack. After suffering heroically until Sunday at 5:10 p.m, he went “to be forever with the Lord.” Death was caused by obstruction of the bowels. He attained the age of 45 years 11 months and 17 days. During this last brief sickness he demonstrated in a marvelous manner the power and hope of the Christian religion, for he was wonderfully sustained by the Christ whom he loved and served, and among the very last acts of his career, called for the sacrament of the Lord’s supper. His home has been in the vicinity of Cozad for the past score of years, and at the time of his death, on a farm nine miles south west of Cozad. His honorable upright Christian life, among his business associates, neighbors and friends, is a great consolation to his family in this sad hour. At the time of his home–going he was a consistent and honored member of the Cozad United Evangelical church.

The death of this good man came as a shock to the community, the Kingdom of God in the vicinity has lost a useful member, and his home a loving husband and devoted father. Funeral services were conducted from the home Tuesday afternoon at two o’clock. It was one of the largest funerals ever held from a rural home about Cozad. The American Legion read their ritual at the house, and Rev. B. A. Shively spoke words of comfort from the scripture, “His servants shall serve him and they shall see his face.”

Interment was made in Pleasant View Cemetery, where the remains await the trumpet of the Resurrection morning. At the grave the American Legion were in charge, and a military burial took place. Taps were sounded and salutes were fired.

“Jesus, Thou Prince of Life,
   Thy chosen cannot die;
Like Thee, they conquer in the strife,
   To reign with Thee on high.”

The Farnam Echo, (28):1 Friday, May 26, 1922