Margaret Knepple, 89

Margaret Ione Knepple, of Cassopolis, went home to be with the Lord Saturday, April 28, 2012 on her 89th birthday at The Timbers of Cass County, Dowagiac.

She was born in Union on April 28, 1923 to Clarence August and Clara DeVere (O’Dell) Dussel. She married William Eugene “Gene” Knepple at the home of the Reverend Davis in Cassopolis on May 9, 1942. Her husband preceded her in death on April 5, 1979. She was also preceded in death by one brother, Lloyd Edward Dussel.

Margaret was a homemaker, a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She worked beside her husband on their family farm for 28 years. She was an avid flower and vegetable gardener and retired cake decorator. She made all her children’s and grandchildren’s special occasion cakes: birthday, graduation, bridal, and baby shower, as well as several cakes for other family members. She was a former 4-H leader having taught sewing and baking. She was also the best pie baker around.

She is survived by two daughters, Linda (James) Bogue of Cassopolis and Patty (Gary) Booth of Niles; one son, Robert (Sara) Knepple of Marcellus; five grandchildren, Melissa (Shaun) Foley of Three Rivers, Laura (Bob) Seem of Cassopolis, Robert B. (Erika) Knepple of Kalamazoo, Rachele (Scott) Ward of Cassopolis and Jeromy (Emily) Bogue of Cassopolis; 16 great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly; one sister, Evelyn Marie Gay of Dowagiac; and three sisters-in-law, Mary Jane (Westgate) Dussel of Cassopolis and Donna (Haines) Knepple of Vandalia, Beverly Knepple-Carver of Three Rivers; one brother-in-law, Roger Dean Knepple of Jones; one uncle, William O’Dell of Edwardsburg; and two grand dogs Basil and Bella.

Family and friends will gather on Tuesday, May 1 from 5-8 p.m. in Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 N. Broadway Street, Cassopolis. Funeral services will be Wednesday, May 2 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with the Reverend Larry Settle officiating. Mrs. Knepple will be laid to rest beside her late husband, William Knepple, in Birch Lake Cemetery, Vandalia.

The family prefers memorial contributions to Cass County Relay for Life, in care of the American Cancer Society, 1400 West Milham Road, Portage, Michigan 49024 or the charity of the donor’s choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis. Online condolences may be sent to wagnercares.com.