Virgil Joseph Knies, 87, of Celestine, passed away at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center in Jasper.
Virgil was born in Celestine on November 24, 1935, to Bernard and Albertha (Heldman) Knies. He married Frances A. Jochem on October 18, 1958 in St. Henry Catholic Church.
He was a veteran of the Indiana Army National Guard and a member of the Indiana American Legion.
Virgil retired from Kimball International and had worked for Aristokraft in Jasper, Jasper Novelty and Gramelspacher Turkey Farms.
He was a member of St. Isidore Parish in Celestine,where he and his wife were recipients of the Simon Bruté Award. He was also a member of the Celestine Community Club where he served as past president, and the Celestine Park and Recreation Club.
He enjoyed playing cards – especially winning – gardening, attending shooting matches, old county music, and Big Joe’s Polka show. He also loved spending time with family, especially his grandson and great-grandson.
Survivors include his wife, Frances A. Knies of Celestine; daughter-in-law, Chris Knies of Dale; grandson Caleb Knies (Savannah) of Murfreesboro, TN; one great-grandson, Smith Edward Knies; two sisters, Connie Schroering and Sharon Burger (Jerry), both of Jasper; four brothers, Paul Knies (Carol) and Perry Knies (Jane), both of Jasper, and Bernard Knies (Diane) and Randall Knies (Janice), both of Celestine; and sister-in-law Bonnie Knies of Jasper.
Preceding him in death was his beloved son, Kurt Knies; one sister, Rosetta Hasenour; six brothers, Dennis, Jerome, Albert, James, Vernon and Ernest Knies; three sisters-in-law, Ruth, Bernice and Cyrilla Knies; and two brothers-in-law, Anthony Hasenour Sr. and Delmar Schroering.
A Mass of Christian burial for Virgil J. Knies will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday July 21, at St. Isidore Parish – St. Celestine Catholic Church in Celestine, with burial to follow in the church cemetery. St. Anthony American Legion Post No. 493 will conduct military graveside rites.
A visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until the 11 a.m. Mass time at St. Celestine Catholic Church on Friday.
In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorial contributions may be made to St. Isidore Parish, the St. Celestine Cemetery Fund, the Celestine Volunteer Fire Department, or the Sisters of St. Benedict Monastery.
Condolences may be offered at www.becherkluesner.com.
