Donald E. Knoell, Sr.

Donald Emery Knoell, Sr., the son of Ernest Emery and Mable Mae Fitch Knoell, was born June 4, 1929, at the Sioux City Methodist Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa and died February 20, 2011, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 81 years, 8 months, and 16 days.
Donald was baptized at the Methodist Church in Dixon, Nebraska and confirmed at the Lutheran Church in New Ulm, Minnesota. He attended Dixon Community Schools graduating with the High School Class of 1946. He then helped operate the family farm with his father for a short time. Donald then was employed as a pump attendant at the Home Oil Service Station in Laurel, Nebraska.
On November 22, 1948, he was united in marriage to Bonnie Hirchert at the Lutheran Church in Laurel, Nebraska. Six children were born to this union. Donald worked as a truck driver for Kraft Foods and later as a driver for Sioux City Motor Express. Don sold insurance and sold and repaired office equipment. In 1966, they moved to Anthony, Kansas and he was employed by J.M. Cleminshaw as a certified appraiser for 14 years. In 1980, they moved to Audubon and Don was elected to the office of Audubon County Assessor a position he held until he retired in 1995.
Donald was a lifetime member of the Audubon County Historical Society and a member of National Appraisals. He was a Boy Scout leader for many years. Donald enjoyed fishing and collecting antiques of all kinds and also enjoyed his guns.
Preceding him in death were his sons: Darrel Knoell and Marlin Knoell; his parents; his brother Boyd Knoell and his sister Jo Ellen Stolze.
Survivors include his wife Bonnie Knoell of Audubon, IA; his children: Gerald and wife Nannette Knoell of Fayetteville, NC; Carol Knoell of Audubon, IA; Donald Jr. and wife Terri Knoell of Eldora, IA and Randall Knoell of Audubon, IA; his daughter-in-law Keiko Knoell of LeMoore, CA; 13 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; his sisters: Bonnie and husband Carol Hirchert of Laurel, NE; Melva and husband Earl Pinkelman of Hartington, NE and Marlene and husband Melfred Peterson of Hinton, IA; his sister-in-law Lois Knoell of Omaha, NE and brothers-in-law: Gerald Stolze of South Sioux City, NE; Richard and wife Linda Hirchert of Dakota City, NE; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Concord Cemetery in Concord, Nebraska on Friday, February 25, 2011 at 2:00 P.M.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends Wednesday evening at 7:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Service:
Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 24, 2011, at 2:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.