As a child I remember going to a lot of rosaries and funerals with my parents, but Johnny’s  funeral was not like the others.  The usual funeral meant going to view the casket but this time it was different.  Johnny’s casket was not open but draped with the American Flag along with a Solider in full dress uniform standing at attention beside Johnny’s casket. It was probably the first time I had ever heard Taps played at the cemetery followed by the 21 gun salute.    I was only 11 years old at the time but it left me with the knowledge that when someone dies defending our freedom it needs to be honored in a special way. 

Johnny, I thank you for your sacrifice to protect our freedom.

Yvonne (Kampschnieder) Niewohner

   Uncle Johnny was a very good whistler.  I remember watching him shave to get ready to go to the dance at Dodge.  He had a straight razor and was all full of lather and whistling to his hearts content.  Never any song in particular.  Just a happy tune.
   He loved to play catch with a baseball with his brother, Al.  And sled ride with us nieces and nephews as he was only a dozen years older than I was.  Some how when we played cards, they always ended up on the floor and we got to play "Pick Up."
   I was in the 8th grade when we got the notice he was killed and our parents came and got us out of school.  We knew he was in grave danger as others had gotten letters back stamped deceased.  One of these envelopes is in the display at the Veterans Building.
                                                      niece Mary Ann Kampschnieder Svitak  

  



   

 





Mary Svitak, Alvin, Theresa Michaels, Melvin, Janet Brabec, Jim
                                  Yvonne Niewohner, Georgene LaPorta, Donna Steffen
                          Bohumila, Roma, Alfred Kampschneider  


   A tribute was payed to Pfc. John Kampschneider on September 5, 2001 for the 50th Anniversary of his death in Korea.
   A group of relatives gathered at Sacred Heart Church at Olean, Nebraska for Mass.  Later a flag was placed at his grave with prayers and remembrances.
   Following was a reunion at the Dodge Community Building.  Attending was brother Al, sisters-in-law Bohumila and Roma Kampschnieder, nieces and nephews, Georgene and Bill LaPorta, Alvin and Mary Kampschnieder, Mary and Edward Svitak, Yvonne and Leo Niewohner, Theresa and Bob Michaels, Janet and Ted Brabec, Melvin and Bernadine Kampschnieder, Marion and
Don Bukowsky, Jim and Lois Kampschnieder, and Donna and Ervin Steffen.
   Unable to attend were Wilma, Lumir, Larry, Diane, Kevin and Gary Kampschneider, Carol Weber, Shirley Ulrich, Judy Zimmerman, Karen Johnson, and Debbie Rosenbach.  Deceased members include George, Victor, Leonard, Edward, Ralph and Marlene Kampschnieder.
   A carry in luncheon was enjoyed by the family.             

     Over the years since Grandma Theresia's death, Mary would ask parents, aunts and uncles if they knew what happened to Uncle Johnny's letters.  Letters she knew that Grandma kept to remember his life.  None knew what became of them. 
     The 50th Anniversary renewed her interest in finding the letters and asked again.
     Then over the Christmas holiday, Kevin Kampschneider from Boston visited his mother, Wilma, in Columbus.  He wanted to see some old family pictures.  So she got him up in the attic digging around.  A brown paper grocery bag was in the way so he handed it down to her.  She took it and looked in it and said, "Oh my God.  I know who wants these.  Mary and Melvin do.  They are Johnny's letters!"
     This was on January 3, 2002, fifty years and one day after John's funeral.  We sorted through the letters, information, service commendations and printed a booklet titled, "Letters to Mom."  A copy was given to all the nieces and nephews for a remembrance.
     We want to thank Melvin Kampschnieder and Mary (Kampschnieder) Svitak for their avid interest in the history of Uncle John.  It was because of their efforts that this book, a tribute to John's love for his mother and country, became a reality.  
     A big thank you to Kevin Kampschneider for searching for family pictures that resulted in finding all these letters and correspondence in his mother's attic.  We sincerely thank Wilma and Karen (Kampschneider) Johnson for all their help.  We thank Bernie Kampschnieder and Edward Svitak for gathering the information, pictures and putting it all together.  Thanks to Al Kampschneider for pictures and information, Janet and Ted Brabec for pictures, and Jim and Lois Kampschnieder for helping with the book.
     Also a thank you goes to the families of George, Victor, Leonard and Edward for donating to this web site for the Memorial and tile.
     A special thank you to Dodge Legion Club for the medals display