June Kneifel, 60

[Guest Nicole]

HASTINGS — June Elaine Kneifel, 60, of Hastings died unexpectedly Monday, March 6, 2017, at Mary Lanning HeathCare in Hastings.

June was born Oct. 4, 1956, in North Platte. From the time she was little, she loved all strays, animal and human. Everyone knew her as the embodiment of love and affection. June was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1983. She cherished her hope of living again on a paradise earth. June married Mark Kneifel on Nov. 1, 1986. She truly felt he was the love of her life and best friend.

She is survived by her husband, Mark Kneifel of Hastings; five children, Shane Kneifel (Sheri) of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Misty Hug (Chad Thompson), Angela Skalka (Jeremy Gillam) and Kristine Kneifel (Greg Knotts), all of Grand Island, and Ben Kneifel of San Diego, Calif.; 13 grandchildren; her father and loving stepmother, Darrell Smith (Nancy) of Rapid City, S.D.; three sisters, Linda Natalie of Palm Dale, Calif. Laura Cline (Bud) of Ayr and Kathy Holtz (Cal) of Central City; a brother, Lynn Smith of Denver, Colo.; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and her three “babies,” Molly, Champaign and Elizabeth.

June was preceded in death by her mother, Roberta Criss.

Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hastings Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In honoring her wishes to be cremated, there will be no viewing or visitation. DeWitt Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Hastings is handling arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to her family for a later designation.

Condolences can be left at www.dewittfuneral.com.