Mass of Christian Burial for 84-year-old Clifford “Shorty” Knickrehm of Franklin, Minnesota, will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, May 9, 2015, at St. James Catholic Church in St. James, Minnesota. The church is located at 623 4th Street South.
Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in rural St. James, located east of the city on Watonwan County Road #27. Military rites will be conductged by the St. James Honor and Rifle Squad.
Father Timothy Hall will officiate at the services.
Visitation will be at Sturm Funeral Home-St. James Chapel, on Friday, May 8, 2015, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The funeral home is located at 906 10th Avenue South. There will be a Christian Mothers Rosary at 4:45 p.m. and a Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m.
Clifford “Shorty” Knickrehm passed away on Monday, May 4, 2015, at The Golden Living Center in Franklin.
Clifford “Shorty” Carl Knickrehm was born August 16, 1930 in St. James, the son of Edward and Evelyn (Lange) Knickrehm. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. James. He went to District #28 Country School until 8th grade and then graduated from St. James Public High School.
He entered the United States Air Force in November 1950 and was honorably discharged as Airman First Class in December 1953. Shorty was stationed in Florida, Texas, Wyoming, California and Alaska during his tour of duty. He drove a refueling tanker at Cape Canaveral. He received a good conduct medal and The National Defense Service Medal.
Shorty married Sharon Ann Jakobe on January 9, 1955 in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Shorty and Sharon moved to the Knickrehm homestead on February 9, 1959. While farming, Shorty also raised dairy and beef cattle, pigs and chickens. He loved all the dogs they ever had on the farm. He did custom farm work for other farmers. Over the years he baled thousands of bales of hay and straw, far too many to count.
He was a lifetime member of the VFW and American Legion. He was commander of the St. James VFW in 1987-1988. He supported the National Farmers Organization. He also completed civil service by being a township board member for 24 years.
He retired from farming in 2000, eventually moving into St. James on September 16, 2006. He enjoyed playing softball for the VFW, bowling, and playing cards of any kind. He was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He donated many gallons of blood to the American Red Cross Bloodmobile.
Cliff lived at home until just before Easter. when he was hospitalized in St. James for two weeks. He then moved to The Golden Living Center in Franklin, for 2 1/2 weeks before passing away at the center. The love and care he received at home from Sharon and his family sustained him well beyond his years.
Those left to cherish is memory are his wife, Sharon, of St. James; children, Thomas and Sandy (Hodgkinson) Knickrehm of North Mankato, Minnesota, Edward Knickrehm and girlfriend, Sherry Baker, of St. James, Dale and Cindy (Shores) Knickrehm of St. James, Stephen and Pheng (Naxay) Knickrehm of Mountain Lake, Minnesota and Natalie Knickrehm of Trimont; grandchildren, Nathan (Stacey Tameling), Sadie and special friend, Brooke Dokken, Jared and girlfriend, Billi Meade, and Allie; Ashley, Tyler, Shay (Kris Forstrom), and Kane; Alex and Austin; James, Kim, Nick and Sara (Henze), and Jenny; 13 great-grandchildren; sister, Ardy Freiderich of Mankato, Minnesota and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins – and his most recent favorite dog, Lizzy.
Shorty was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Arlene Nelson and two brothers-in-law, Jack Freiderich and Vernon Nelson.
