Esther M. Kneisley, age 83, of Marion, went to join her husband and give thanks to the Lord on Tuesday morning, November 23, 2010, at Kingston Residence of Marion following an eight month illness.
On August 16, 1927, Esther was born in Marion, Ohio, the daughter of the late Carey and Verna (Oiler) Long.
She had attended school in Pleasant, and transferred to Marion Harding High School, her senior year, to graduate in their class of 1945.
One day at a downtown coffee shop with her sister, Doris, Esther met a young lad who had just returned from the Navy, Richard “Dick” Kneisley. He approached her as she was playing pinball, asked her on a date and the rest was history. They were married on June 30, 1950, in Marion, and enjoyed nearly fifty-one years together. He preceded her in death on April 24, 2001.
For over fifteen years, Esther had worked as a secretary for the Jay H. Maish Advertising Company.
A woman of faith, Esther was an active member of the Peace Community United Church of Christ. She was also a member of the “C.C.L. Ladies Club,” which was a group of friends who used this club as a good reason to get together to make crafts and share stories.
Sharing a love for fishing with her husband, for Esther and Dick “if the weather was good, you wouldn’t find them in Marion. You would find them up on the lake.” They loved going to their home on Lake Erie as often as possible for nearly twenty years, where they loved fishing for perch and walleye.
When they weren’t spending time on the lake, Esther and Dick enjoyed traveling to places like Gatlinburg and Branson.
Having a green thumb, Esther loved tending to the flowers in her flower garden. “And if something was planted in her garden you could be certain that she grew the flower herself in her own greenhouse.”
With a love for music, Esther enjoyed visiting the Marion Senior Center, where she was a member, whenever there was music being played there. She also looked forward to seeing most of the plays and musicals that would take place at the Palace Theatre. Nevertheless, her favorite joy was listening to her grandson, Patrick, sing in their acapella group, Inchant.
Every year, Esther and her sisters, would look forward to “Homecoming Week” when everyone in the family would come back home to Marion for a week and enjoy get togethers, hog roasts, fish fries, etc. and most especially each other’s company. Again, Esther made sure everything went perfectly during “Homecoming Week.”
Always looking out for her family, Esther wanted to make sure everyone was always taken care of. She cared deeply for family, and loved spending time with them. She especially loved when her grandchildren would come over to play.
She will be dearly missed by her daughter and son-in-law, Jill M. and Wayne Chitwood of Marion; two grandchildren: Patrick Chitwood and Kelly (Shayne) Taylor of Marion; one sister, Frances (John) Winters of Florida; and a close friend and companion, Marvin Evans.
Including her husband and parents, Esther was preceded in death by her son, Dennis E. Kneisley in 1980; a brother, Ronald C. Long; and two sisters and brothers-in-law: Ruth and Cliff Price, and Doris and James Kneisley.
The Kneisley family will greet friends from 4 – 7 p.m. on Monday, November 29, 2010, at the Denzer-Farison-Hottinger & Snyder Funeral Home, 360 E. Center St., Marion, where a service of thanksgiving to the Lord will follow immediately at 7:00 p.m., with Rev. Joel Fetter officiating. Graveside services will also be held on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at Claridon Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Peace Community United Church of Christ or to Marion General Hospice and they may be sent to the care of the funeral home.
For those wishing to express their condolences to Esther’s family online, you may do so by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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