Muriel Christ Kneller

On Christmas Day, Muriel Christ Kneller peacefully departed this world from her home at Scottish Rite Park in Des Moines at the age of ninety-three. Muriel was a devoted member of her church, the West Des Moines United Methodist Church, an active member of her community, and dedicated to her family including her five great-grandchildren.

Muriel was born December 15, 1919 in Lake Park, Iowa to Clarence Christ and Ethel Rowe Christ and was an elder sister to Arlene Christ McLarnan and Donald Christ. After graduating from the University of Northern Iowa in 1939, Muriel moved to Prescott, Iowa to teach elementary school. On June 28, 1942, Muriel and Dale Kneller began their marriage of fifty-three years. Muriel and Dale spent the first years of their marriage in San Diego, California and both worked in the aircraft industry prior to Dale’s service in WWII. After the war, the couple returned to Adams County, Iowa where they started a family and operated a dairy farm. After thirteen years on the farm, the family moved to West Des Moines, Iowa where Muriel continued her career teaching elementary school students while earning a master’s degree at Drake University. Muriel and Dale remained involved members of the West Des Moines community and were proud parents of their children Kay (Bob) Riley and Wendell (Jean Mountain) Kneller and proud grandparents of their four grandchildren Katherine Riley Harrington, Joe Riley, Ted Kneller, and Alex Kneller.

Muriel will be fondly remembered for her many interests, including teaching and music. Muriel shared her love of music and education with students in Iowa public schools. As she noted in one of her many journals, “I loved teaching those little children to be good readers.” After more than forty years as a dedicated teacher and recipient of the Elementary Teacher of the Year Award, Muriel retired in 1985. Muriel remained devoted to her faith and her church and was an active member in many community organizations including P.E.O., Delta Kappa Gamma, Kappa Kappa Iota, West Des Moines Women’s Club, Eastern Star, and the Nobells. Muriel was also an active resident at Scottish Rite Park where she regularly played piano and accompanied singers and choral groups. Muriel loved to travel, was an inaugural member of Friendship Force, and in 1997, went to Peru and successfully climbed Machu Picchu.

Muriel is preceded in death by her husband, Dale; son, Wendell; parents; and brother, Donald. She is survived by her sister, Arlene; daughter, Kay; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held for Muriel at the West Des Moines United Methodist Church at 8th and Grand on Saturday, December 29 at 1 p.m. A reception with family and friends will be held immediately thereafter. Memorial contributions can be directed to the Scottish Rite Park Good Life Fund.