Keith Pinkelman

Keith Pinkelman

BLOOMFIELD — Mass of Christian Burial for Keith Pinkelman, 79, Bloomfield, will be 10 a.m., Sept. 25, at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Bloomfield.

Reverend James Keiter and Reverend Darin Schmidt will be concelebrants, with burial in Bloomfield City Cemetery.

Military honors will be provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4996, American Legion Post 249 and the Army National Guard Honor Guard.

Visitation and a wake service were Tuesday, at the church.

Brockhaus Funeral Home, Bloomfield, is in charge of arrangements.

Keith died Sept. 21, 2024, at Norfolk Veterans Home, Norfolk.

Keith E. Pinkelman, son of Louis and Margaret (Backman) Pinkelman, was born July 7, 1945, at Sioux City, Iowa. He attended Cedar County schools near Bow Valley and graduated from Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Hartington in 1963. After graduation, Keith worked as a milk truck driver.

Keith was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War, serving his country from 1966-1968. He was stationed in Germany and received the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

After he was discharged from the service, Keith returned to Nebraska. He married Kathleen Schroeder July 19, 1969, at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Menominee. They were blessed with five children, twins, Debbie and Denise, Chad, Todd and Troy.

Keith and Kathleen rented a farm near Crofton for a couple years before buying the home place, six miles east of Bloomfield, in 1972. Keith was a farmer at heart and farming was his true calling. The family also milked cows for nearly 30 years. Keith remained active in farming until just a few years ago.

Keith was a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Bloomfield, and the Knights of Columbus.

He enjoyed watching westerns and the news, listening to country western music and his favorite foods were steak, potatoes and coconut cream pie with real meringue. He also enjoyed taking the kids fishing when they were young. Keith’s favorite pastime was spending time with his family, especially his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his children, Debbie (Jeff) Abbenhaus, Bloomfield; Denise (Joe) Heese, Earling, Iowa; Chad (Karen) Pinkelman, Stromsburg; Todd (Tiffany) Pinkelman, Norfolk; and Troy (Lauren) Pinkelman, Bloomfield; grandchildren, Kristen (Derek) Frevert; Cody (Kenzie) Allen; Kasi and Madison Abbenhaus; Jordan, Brett and Taylor Heese; Bailey (Treva) Pinkelman, Alex, Preston, and Ellasyn Pinkelman; Ty and Tate Pinkelman; and Cole, Reed and Drew Pinkelman; great-grandchildren, Stran, Sutton, and Stetson Allen; and Colby Frevert; siblings, Sandy Schmidt, Dakota City; Brice (Lorie) Pinkelman, St. Helena; and Brian Pinkelman, Wichita, Kan.; and in-laws, Lorraine Pinkelman, Coleridge; James (Renae) Schroeder, Yankton, S.D.; Bernadette (Ed) Lange, Hartington; Alice Klug, St. Helena; Cheryl Schroeder, St. Helena; Dorothy (Arlynn) Schmidt, Elk Point, S.D.; Daniel (Joan) Schroeder, Crofton; Allen (Cindy) Schroeder, Fordyce; and David (Sally) Schroeder, Irene, S.D.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathy; parents; brother, Keevin Pinkelman; in-laws, Vernon Schmidt, Marjorie (Urban) Kathol, Henrietta (Bud) Sudbeck, Leander Schroeder, Joseph Schroeder, Charles Schroeder, and Jerry Klug; and nephews, Ben Pinkelman and Craig Schmidt.