Thomas B. Kniesly

Thomas B. Kniesly
September 30, 1952 ~ February 10, 2026

After four days’ hospitalization Thomas Barnes Kniesly died 2-10-2026 at Mishawaka’s St. Joseph Medical Center with family and friends at his side. Tom had the good fortune to live in Culver, residing on the shore of Little Lake Maxinkuckee (aka “Lost Lake"), a short walk to the Barnes Family Cottage on Lake Maxinkuckee’s west shoreline. Born 9-30-1952 in Logansport, IN to Virginia and Forest “Red” Kniesly, Tom joined siblings Kathy and John at their home at 9th and Market. In 1956 brother Tim rounded out the crew. The family were members of St. James Lutheran Church across the street from their home, and Tom received his first Communion in 1966. He attended Longfellow Grade School, Columbia Jr. High, Culver Military Academy Summer School, and Logansport High School, graduating in 1970. In the summer of 1970 Tom enrolled at Drake University and graduated in 1974. Every summer was spent at the lake - playing in the sandbox, hide and seek, baseball, fishing, turtle hunting, swimming, skiing, sailing - with few exceptions. One, a 14-day fishing trip to Canada’s Rainey Lake in 1963. That’s where Tom caught a big old Northern Pike that fought hard for a while before diving to cooler water near the lake bottom. Tom pulled and pulled, and the great fish came to the surface. Not headfirst, but slowly, and horizontal like a submarine. It looked at him holding the pole, and Dad holding an inadequate net, then spat the lure from his mouth, flipped his tail, and was gone. While at LHS Tom played football for the Berries, rode in the Little 500 Bike Race on the ’69 and ’70 winning teams, and was a member of Key Club. At Drake he joined the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and as an alum enjoyed attending the famous Drake Relays with his Pike brothers. He was a Delta Gamma Sorority “Anchor Man” and tended bar at campus pub Peggy’s. Tom was a good-natured Pond Hockey participant in the winter wherever suitable ice could be had during his high school years. Once at Drake he joined the school’s Hockey Club and honed skills well beyond recovering a puck that went into a muskrat run, all of which surpassed those of pond hockey regulars Denham, Crispen, Sydor, Muehlhausen, Layman, the Moore’s, and his brothers. After moving to Indianapolis Tom played rugby in the spring and fall for the Indianapolis Reds, and in hockey season played in the Carmel Ice Skadium Men’s League on teams featuring the likes of Scott MacDonald, the Lund Brothers, Joe Schaub, and his own brother, John. At the invitation of Dr. Fritsch, DDS, Tom, John, and cousin Dave Moore played a few seasons on a forward line for the IU School of Dentistry Hockey Team. While lining up for that line’s first face off against the IU Medical School Hockey Team a future MD questioned the trio’s Dental School eligibility. Tom quipped that he could re-arrange teeth… and the linesman dropped the puck. After a brief career marketing Pioneer Title Insurance Tom convinced Traub & Company founders King Traub and Frank Holland to take a chance on a journalism major from Drake. He became a Registered Representative and maintained in that role for Traub, David A. Noyes, City Securities, and its successor, Stifel. He loved his work, associates, and especially his clients. His last, and full, day of service to his clients was Friday, February 6th, 2026. Tom loved sailing on Lake Maxinkuckee, racing a Sailfish as a kid in the Jr. Fleet and a C Scow when he was older. He served the Lake Maxinkuckee Yacht Club as Commodore. Whenever the wind was judged too heavy for safe sailing and officials cancelled a race, Tom would raise sail anyhow, invite any family member or neighbor within earshot to crew, and enjoy the wave pounding speed of a broad reach, and the precarious heeling while tacking upwind - the wind versus Tom and crew. Tending tiller and mainsheet in the gale he would laugh like a pirate! Tom was preceded in death by parents Ginna and “Red”, all aunts and uncles, too many great 1st, 2nd and 3rd cousins spawned by the Drompp, Hillis, Studebaker, Sparling, Medland, Muehlhausen, and Kniesly families to name, dogs Jacques, Tammy, and Kelly. He is survived by sister Kathy Vesh and brothers John (Angelia) and Tim. Also nephews Andrew and Matthew (Laura) Vesh, John Forest (Anna) Kniesly, and nieces Elizabeth (Harlan) Vondersaar, and Sarah (Tony) Davis. Tom’s dog, Oliver, is now living happily with kennel mate Rex in Lexington, KY. Tom was registered with the Indiana Donor Network, and his intentions were realized two days after he was declared legally deceased. Tom’s family thanks the Culver Police Department and Culver’s EMS for providing him immediate care, and the staff at St. Joseph Medical Centers in Plymouth and Mishawaka for extraordinary efforts and honest assessment. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 16th, 2026, from 3PM to 6PM at Culver Cove, 319 E. Jefferson Street, Culver, IN 46511. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to St. James Lutheran Church, 430 9th Street, Logansport, IN 46947, or to the Animal Control Agency or Humane Shelter in your community. Tom’s ashes will be interred at Logansport’s Mt. Hope Cemetery by family members during a reunion this summer