Obituaries : Anton G. (Tony) Knittel; Citrus Rancher
Anton G. (Tony) Knittel, a citrus rancher in Somis since the 1930s, died Thursday. He was 91.
Born in Hohentengen, Germany, he grew up on a family farm there. Knittel came to America in 1922 and began working at a Somis ranch. After raising lima beans with a partner for several years, he bought a citrus ranch in Somis and also eventually grew walnuts near Simi Valley and ran cattle near Fresno.
Knittel served as a trustee on the Somis school board and was on the Berylwood Heights water board. He also was a 4-H leader and was active in the St. Mary Magdalene Church in Camarillo, where he sang in the first choir.
He leaves his daughter Rosemary Milligan of Somis and son August Knittel of Auberry, Calif. Also surviving are seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mary Magdalene Chapel. James A. Reardon Mortuary in Oxnard is handling the arrangements.
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