Otto Kniffke

Otto Kniffke, age 85 of Toledo passed away Friday, November 19, 2010. He was born September 28, 1925 on a farm in East Prussia, Germany. He was drafted in the Army and during his time he was wounded in Monte Cassino. When he landed in Erlangen, Germany he met his wife Margaret (Schwarzbach) and they married at the House of the American Family. It was the House of the American Family that assisted Otto and his wife to immigrate to America and begin their lives together.

Otto worked for the Society for the Handicapped since 1954, which is now known as the Ability Center. He worked there for 35 years, assisting in many different areas but ultimately the goal was helping others. Otto helped build handicap accessible ramps, he often fixed children's wheelchairs, he and Margaret even played Mr. and Mrs. Claus for over 35 years for the handicapped. It was at the Ability Center that he was known by many of the children as, "Mr. Otto." Along with his many contributions to the Ability Center, Otto was a current member and very involved in the German-American Festival Society. He was also a member of the Schwaben Verein and the Retirees.

Otto's family will remember him as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who was a self-taught handyman who put others needs first. He will be greatly missed by all the lives he impacted throughout the years.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 60 years, Margaret; daughter, Irene and very special son-in-law, Frank; granddaughter Melissa; grandson, Frank-O (Ryan) Gregory; great-grandchildren, Bailey, Madyson, Brady, Max and Presley.

The family will receive guests Tuesday from 1-3:00 p.m. at Newcomer Funeral Home, 4150 W. Laskey Rd. (419-473-0300). Memorial Services will begin at 3:00 p.m. in the funeral home.

For those wishing a kind expression of sympathy please consider the Ability Center or the Schwaben Verein Scholarship Fund.