Florence Wauneta Schardt was born on Jan. 23, 1928, in Deshler, to Fred and Elsie Schardt. After graduating from high school and teacher training, she taught for five years in three different schools. At the age of 23, she married her sweetheart, Erwin Kniep, and joined him on his farm.
Florence was an active member at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in rural Byron. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years. She was active in WELCA, quilting, Bible study groups, and committed to the visitation ministry.
Erwin and Florence had four children; Daryl, Sandra, June and Mark. She enjoyed gardening, canning and sewing. She was a wonderful cook and baker, spoiling her family with delicious food. She taught her girls to sew,
bake, can and worked with them with their 4-H projects for many years.
After Erwin died in 2015, Florence spent the next few winters in Florida with one of her sons. She enjoyed the winters as well as the beach community. In May of 2018 she moved to the Meadowlark Heights Assistive Living Center in Deshler. In July of 2020, she moved to Parkview Haven. Florence died Aug. 6, 2020.
Florence is survived by her sister, Gladys Bohling from Shawnee, Kan.; sister-in-law, Olga Reinke from Davenport; and her children, Daryl, Naples, Fla, Sandra Weber,Omaha, June Gaston,Sioux Falls, S.D., and Mark Kniep from Byron; 14 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
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