Corine R. “Connie” Kneisel, of Hiawatha, died Saturday evening, February 17, 2024, at Anew Health Care Center in Hiawatha. She was 82.
Connie was a longtime resident of Brown County, she was born at Atchison, Kansas, June 11, 1941, one of five children born to Carl and Ruth Schmitt Kneisel. She grew up on a farm near Powhattan where her family farmed and raised livestock and attended country school, later graduating from Powhattan High School with the class of 1959. She attended the three year program at Missouri Methodist Nursing School in St. Joseph where she received her registered nurse diploma.
Her strong work ethic she learned by growing up on the farm carried over to her nursing. Connie worked various places in her many years of nursing: Alma Nursing Home, Hiawatha Community Hospital, Maple Heights Nursing Home in Hiawatha where she served as Director of Nursing for several years, and Colmery O’Neil Veterans Administration Hospital in Topeka for 10 years, retiring in 1997. As a nurse, she took care of and treated people like she was taking care of her own family, and like she wanted to be treated. In later years she moved to the Maple Grove Senior Complex to make her home, still caring for people by taking blood pressure and changing dressings when there were concerns.
Connie was baptized and confirmed in the Powhattan Lutheran Church before the Kneisel family transferred their membership to Zion Lutheran Church in Hiawatha. Her growing and young mother years, Connie was busy! She sang in the choir at Powhattan High School, was involved with 4-H where she was a member of the Modern Sunflower 4-H Club. She won the ‘who’s-who’ Award—which was the highest award in health and food preparation. Her faith was very important to her and taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School at Powhattan Lutheran Church. Connie was also a member of the Walther League Club of Powhattan. After she retired she was a member of the Hiawatha Chapter of NARFE.
Survivors include two children: William ‘Bill’ Spiker (Dawn), and Rita Hill; a sister Kathy Engle, a brother Harlan Kneisel (Susan); 4 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Richard Kneisel, and a sister Sharon Rosenberger.
A Celebration of Connie’s Eternal Life is planned for 11 a.m. Friday, February 23, at Zion Lutheran Church in Hiawatha with Pastor Brian Holle officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha.
Friends may call at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, Hiawatha, after 10 a.m. Thursday. The family will meet with friends one hour prior to services at Church
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to NEK Hospice or Zion Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., 66434
