Everett Earl Knebel

May 18, 1920 — May 4, 2016

Everett Earl Knebel, 95, of Winamac (formerly of Star City), passed away at 10:03 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, just two weeks shy of his 96th birthday. 

He was born on May 18, 1920, on a farm in Van Buren Township to Floyd and Opal Knebel and remained in the Star City area for most of his life. During the Great Depression, he was forced to quit high school to help on the family farm. He proudly earned an honorary diploma in time for the 50th anniversary of the Star City High School graduating class of 1939.

Within days of the attack on Pearl Harbor, he entered the U.S. Navy and served in the 1st Seabee Battalion in the South Pacific for the next four years. During the war, he met the woman he would share his life with for the next 66 years. Ethel Hultgren, of Portland, Oregon, and Everett were married on April 21, 1945. They farmed for a few years and then moved into the house Everett built in Star City. He retired from farming and spent the next several years raising five children in that home while building close to 40 other houses in the surrounding areas as a building contractor. In 1967, they bought the grocery store in Star City and operated it as Knebel Grocery for the next 20 years. Everett was noted for his quality meats, his willingness to chat with customers, and especially for his ham salad.

Everett was active in the Star City United Methodist Church, was Van Buren Township Trustee for 19 years, and was active in numerous Star City and Pulaski County organizations. In the 1950s and 1960s, he invested his spare time assisting with his children’s activities. He served as a Cub Scout Master, Little League coach, Sunday school teacher, and 4-H leader, amongst other things. In his later years, that energy was devoted to joining various service organizations and serving on Pulaski County boards. He served on the welfare board, Pulaski County Human Services Board, recycle committee, Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission, Lions Club, and the American Legion. In 1988, he was named Pulaski County Senior Citizen of the Year.

His life was dedicated to serving God, country and family. He will be missed.

Survivors include his sons: Donald E. [Jennifer] Knebel of Zionsville, Thomas L. [Holly Field] Knebel of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Joseph E. Knebel of Duluth, Georgia; daughter Linda [Robert] Pruden of St. Paul, Minnesota; 14 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; brothers: William [Marie] Knebel and Harold Knebel; and sister-in-law Virginia Knebel. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Opal Knebel; wife Ethel J. Knebel; daughter Carol E. [Kenneth] Preiser; and brothers Darl Knebel, and James [Marge] Knebel.  

Friends may call at Frain Mortuary, Winamac, from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, May 12, and one hour prior to services in the church Friday. A Lions Club service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 13, in the Star City United Methodist Church, Star City, with Pastor Ruth Waite officiating. Burial will take place at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the Victor Chapel Cemetery, Star City. The American Legion and VFW will conduct military graveside services. 

Memorial contributions may be given to the Star City United Methodist Church or Star City Lions Club or to a charity of the donors’ choice.

Online condolences may be offered in the guestbook at www.frainmortuary.com. 

(Pulaski County Journal — May 11, 2016) 

Pulaski County Journal

114 W. Main Street
Winamac, IN 46996

(574) 946-6628
 

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