RIP, Brother Roger Knibbe, IBEW Local 60 (San Antonio TX) at age 97

Roger Lafayette Knibbe

Graveside services for Roger Lafayette Knibbe, 97, was held Saturday, Oct. 15, at 11 a.m. at Oak Rest Cemetery, Medina, with Mr. Martin Smith conducting services. Knibbe, who lived at Medina, passed away Oct. 12 in Lytle Nursing Home, Lytle.

Roger Knibbe was born June 12, 1908, at Concan where his parents Lafe and Clara Knibbe had charge of the local post office. Later, with his sister Jane Knibbe (Farris) and their parents, he moved to Knippa where grandparents August and Mary Gourley Knibbe had established the Knibbe store and cotton gin. The family then moved to the Farris Community north of Uvalde where he attended the Farris one-room field school; then attended high school in Uvalde at the old West Main Street School located where Uvalde's new El Progreso Library and Museum stands today.

In addition to Uvalde County, much of his life was spent in Kendalia, Boerne and Medina. By trade he was a skilled electrician and spent many years on the job in San Antonio. He was a 60-year member of Local Union #60, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; and a member of the Stringtown Road Church of Christ. In personality he was a raconteur, delighting many friends and family members with colorful anecdotes. Roger Knibbe was first married to Charlotte Catherine Hobrecht and to this union was born a son, Glenn Roger Knibbe. Charlotte Knibbe died May 12, 1975.

His second marriage was Nov. 26, 1976, to Haytee Jackson Knibbe, widow of Felix Norris Knibbe, who had passed away March 29, 1975. Following their marriage Roger and Haytee chose to spend their remaining years in Medina. Haytee Jackson Knibbe died April 21, 1997.

Included in those surviving Roger Knibbe are Sarah Knibbe Tondre, daughter of Haytee and Norris Knibbe, who along with her family has over-seen his care during elder years; a niece, Jo Ann Farris Goodell of Austin and a number of grand and great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends - including a special Medina Neighbor, Naomi Mudd. Roger and his sister Jane Farris, who preceded him in death, were the great grandchildren of early Texas Pioneer John Heinrich Dietrich Knibbe who came from Hannover, Germany, to New Braunfels in the 1840's and is said to have been the first settler in the Spring Branch community, Comal County.

They also were the grandchildren of August Henry Knibbe who once ran a flour mill and had large land holdings at Curry's Creek. As a Texas Minuteman, August Knibbe had the experience of being shot in the leg in a chase with Indians. Roger and his sister were also descendants of Christian Schmidt, Sr. (Who during the Civil War was with the First Texas Cavalry, Union) and his wife Mary Schaefer Schmidt; and of Christian Schmidt, Jr. and his wife, Anna Leistikow Schmidt of Kendalia Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera.