Waylon Carpenter

Atkinson — Philip Daniel Kliewer,  73, of Atkinson, died Monday, Sept. 25, 2023 at his home in Atkinson.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 at Seger Funeral Home in Atkinson with a 6 p.m. prayer service.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at Faith Community Church in O'Neill. Pastor Paul Harder will officiate. Music will be provided by organist Lynn Garwood with the Reimer and Kliewer families singing.

Pallbearers will be Brad Green, Kurt Green, Vance Reimer, Blake Reimer, Ryan Reimer, and Ransom Wentworth.

A private family burial will be held at a later date in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Atkinson.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Seger Funeral home in Atkinson is in charge of the arrangements.

Philip was born to Alvin and Elisabeth Kliewer on Nov. 10, 1949 in Glasgow, MT. He passed away at age 73, on Sept. 25 in his home in Atkinson. 

Phil grew up with his parents and three siblings on their family farm in Lustre, MT.  During his school years, he discovered two passions that set the trajectory for the rest of his life— Jesus and music. After graduating from Lustre Christian High School, those passions led him to Grace Bible Insitute in Omaha.

At Grace, he met his future wife Kathy (Reimer) Kliewer. They were married on July 10, 1971. In the following years they had four children Jason, Shawn, Jared and Andrea. 

In 1974, Phil graduated from UNL with a master of music and moved to Atkinson where he became the band and choir teacher at West Holt High School. 

Phil taught at West Holt for 39 years. He also taught for one year at Carachipampa Christian School in Bolivia. Wherever he taught, he impacted students with his intentional kindness and his love for music. 

He also invested countless hours in Faith Community Church. Along with being an elder, he served in various music positions. He led worship on Sundays, accompanied kids' singing on Wednesdays and directed Christmas Cantatas every winter.  

Phil loved fixing anything he could get his hands on. He loved helping anyone who was in need. Maybe more than anything, he loved spending time with his wife and kids (and eventually grandkids). Phil and Kathy enjoyed so many adventures together - camping, motorcycling and traveling all over the US. 

Phil was known for his integrity, generosity and faithfulness. He lived his life in a way that would shine the light of Christ everywhere he went.

Phil is survived by his wife Kathy; his four children Jason (Lindsey) of Costa Mesa, CA, Shawn (Anneliese) of Springfield, Jared (Kerri) of Omaha and Andrea (DJ) Hornacek of Springfield; 14 grandchildren; and three siblings.

He was preceded in death by his parents Alvin and Elisabeth Kliewer.

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