Theodore "Ted" Kneibel

Ted (Teddy) Kneibel, 96 of Grand Rapids, MI, went to be with Jesus on Thursday, October 23, 2025.

Ted Kneibel was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many. His growing family and his love of the outdoors were his greatest treasures. He leaves behind a rich collection of memories for his special friends and family to cherish forever.

The 1920s were a period of sustained economic prosperity with a distinctive cultural edge. The media focused on jazz music and celebrities, especially sports heroes and movie stars. Stephen and Mary (Sivak) Kneibel, immigrants from Eastern Europe, welcomed home their own star, Theodore Joseph, on July 26th, 1929 in Comstock Park, Michigan. His father worked for American Seating, and his mother was a wonderful homemaker. He was the second of five boys born in and around Grand Rapids.

The family lived near Bristol Avenue NW and created many happy memories together. Ted and his brothers spent most of their time outdoors seeking adventures and mischief. Some of their early years included chewing bits of asphalt from the road, eating lard sandwiches, rolling goldenrod into cigarettes to smoke, and arriving home with fresh bumps and bruises. Raised with a strong Catholic upbringing, they attended St. Anthony’s Catholic Church on the NW side. As a teenager, baseball was his passion between his shifts at Art Gavin’s service station. He later worked the station as well as the second shift at GM.

Ted attended St. Anthony of Padua grade school, followed by Grand Rapids Catholic Central. He was proud of his Catholic education and set a great example for generations. His children and the majority of his grandchildren were blessed to have received an excellent faith-based education from the Catholic School system here in the Grand Rapids Diocese. After this formal education, Ted served in the United States Naval Reserve for nearly five years.

In 1952, he went to work full-time as a plumber for Bill Metz, later taking the company over with the name Grand Rapids Installation Plumbing Co. In 1984, he closed the company after the economy took a downturn and as a licensed Master Plumber went to work as a Plumbing Inspector for the City of Grand Rapids. After he retired in 1994, he worked as an independent contractor performing plumbing inspections for various townships in West Michigan. This afforded him the ability to keep his mind active and supplement his retirement income.

Ted met Doris Piotrowski on the bus to Catholic Central High School. They were married the year after Doris graduated, on May 21, 1949, at St. Mary’s Church in Grand Rapids. They had a wonderful 53 years of marriage with many great memories of travel, building their forever home in Grand Rapids, as well as a beautiful home on Big Whitefish Lake, where family and friends still gather today. After Doris passed unexpectedly in February 2003, Ted rekindled a friendship with a former grade school classmate of Doris’, Joan Stoddard. After courting for a couple of years, they were married in September 2006. They had lots of fun and laughter together, both in Grand Rapids and in Florida. Joan passed in 2016.

When he had any free time, he loved to go fishing or hunting and owned rabbit hounds over the years. Active throughout his life, Ted also played golf in his later years and bowled on a league at Westgate on Friday nights. Doris would take the kids shopping at Meijer and other department stores in the area and then end up at the bowling alley to watch Ted. Their weekend treats were one can of pop and a bag of chips, or popcorn on Saturday nights. Family vacations usually involved a rotation of their kids, not all of them at once. Once a year, they would book a room at the Holiday Inn and watch the Detroit Tigers play on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! Traveling was one of their hobbies in retirement years. Ted and Doris traveled to Spain, North Africa, and Morocco, as well as several local bus trips.

Everyone who knew Teddy knew how much he loved his social clubs. He belonged to the Casino Club and the Northwest Sportsmen Club for most of his adult life. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus and was acting secretary up until his passing. He was an avid volunteer in these clubs and organizations and loved serving up a hot breakfast at church or a delicious fish fry meal during Lent. He also loved his golf leagues (acted as Treasurer for many years), bowling leagues, and playing pool – not just because he loved the games – but because he loved the people that played with him. He followed the Detroit Tigers throughout his life.

Ted held positions of leadership at St. Mary’s School & Parish, ranging from Building Committee Chairperson, Parish Council President & Home & School President. He was also a member of the parish choir and, in the 1970s, joined the all-male chorus Schubert Club of Grand Rapids, where he spent many happy evenings practicing and socializing with the guys afterwards at the local watering hole.

As a grandfather, Ted loved all of his grandchildren. Every Christmas, he would gift them with a variety of themed presents like matching pajamas, umbrellas, camping chairs etc. Since 1999, Ted has enjoyed accompanying them on memorable camping trips to state parks. He enjoyed hosting holidays at the family home. He treasured the energy that a home filled with loved ones gave him. Any amount of time they were together, Ted was happy.

Hardworking, faithful, and loving, Ted’s gentle and caring ways will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. Ted’s genuine smile, his love of family and friends, his devotion to Jesus and the Blessed Virgin, as well as his bigger-than-life heart, will be missed by all who knew him.

Ted and Doris raised five children who have remained close throughout the years. His children are Theodore T. (Ted) - aka Tom (Mary) Kneibel of Jenison, MI, Larry (Tamy) Kneibel of Grand Rapids, MI, Kathy (Todd) Francisco of Livonia, MI, Greg (Cynthia) Kneibel of Grand Rapids, MI, and Lisa (Joe) Beyer of Sand Lake, MI.

Ted’s five children blessed him with 15 grandchildren: Michelle Kneibel, Cheri Conklin, Tim (Mallory Schwartz) Francisco, Bradley (Samantha) Kneibel, Julie (Ryan) Meldrum, Rebecca (Aaron) Friedsberg, Catherine (Jake Peckham) Kneibel, Patrick (Laney) Kneibel, Kevin Francisco, Jake (Gabriella) Kneibel, Stacy and Evan Shimp, Shannon Kneibel, Carly (Tyler) Day, and Logan Beyer.

His grandchildren blessed him with 13 great-grandchildren (and soon-to-be great-great-grandson): Nolan Ferguson, Austin (Nikoma) Conklin, Ty Conklin, Hanna Conklin, Leah, Hanna, and Finn Kneibel, Parker Kneibel, Holly and Madeline Meldrum, Edward Kneibel, Jace Friedsberg, and Juniper Day.

Ted also had two step-children who welcomed him into their family after marrying Joan. Diane (Tim – deceased) Crosby of Iowa City, Iowa, and Dan (Shari) Stoddard of Grand Rapids, MI. Their children are Sarah Stoddard, Christina (Scott) Davis, Rebecca (Jon) Levay, Angela (Andrew) Bearinger, Meghan Crosby, Dan (Dr. Jennifer Kruse) Crosby and Amanda (Andre) Perry. This family also had a deep love for Ted and he for them.

Ted also leaves behind his youngest brother, John (Evelyn) Kneibel of Wayland, MI, and many loving nephews and nieces. Three brothers predeceased Ted: Stephen Jr., Robert, and Joseph.

There will be a visitation on Sunday, November 2, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM EST at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49504. The Rosary will be prayed at 5:00 PM. Ted’s Celebration of Life will take place on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 11:00 AM EST at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 2510 Richmond St. N.W., Grand Rapids, MI 49504, with a visitation one hour before the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to the Knights of Columbus – Chapter #3104 of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Community.