Yvonne Charleen Riley

Yvonne Charleen Wiederholt Knueve Riley, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the age of 90. Yvonne was born in Aitkin, MN on April 14, 1935, to parents Freda Johnson and Walter Wiederholt. She moved with her family to Fort Wayne, IN in 1942 and graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1953. She married her husband and the father of her children, Bernard V. Knueve, on August 8, 1953. The couple relocated several times for his Army service before settling down in Monroeville, IN. Following the passing of her first husband, she married Coulardot General Store owner and amateur painter William B. Riley on September 6, 1975. A devoted wife and mother, Yvonne also worked as a part owner of the Coulardot General Store in Zulu, IN, an examiner at Dreibelbiss Title Company, and an employee at a Target retail store before retiring in 2006.

Yvonne was known by those who loved her for her unassuming, but quick wit, her sly humor, stubborn independence, ability to sass when sassiness was needed, and mostly for her steadfast ability to love her family deeply.

She is survived by her children, Sylvia Harris (Buddy Rush) of Nevada, TX, Vincent (Janet) Knueve of Monroeville, IN, Jeanette (David) Wells of Ft. Wayne, IN, Pamela (Doug) Stitt of Ft. Wayne, IN; grandchildren, Randy Harris (Natalya Clark) of Auburn, IN, Krista (Adam) Voors of Monroeville, IN, Kelly (Chris) Minnich of Hoagland, IN, Leigh Wells (Kristen Kipperman) of Akron, OH, Mindy (Will) Price of Muncie, IN; and great-grandchildren, Bailey Harris, Maggie Minnich, Kaelyn Voors, Rodney Minnich, William Voors, Haleigh Collett, Brixxton Harris. She is also survived by her siblings, Lyndelle Slater of Myrtle Beach, SC, Mona (David) Delaet of Myrtle Beach, SC; and sister-in-law, Deloris Wiederholt of Ft. Wayne, IN.

Even as we said goodbye to Yvonne on this earthly plane, she was happily welcomed by her heavenly family who had preceded her in death: parents, Walter and Freda Wiederholt; husband of 21 years, Bernard Knueve; husband of 16 years, Wiliam Riley; sons, Paul, Mark, and Stephen Knueve; grandsons, Kyle Knueve and Nicholas Wells; brothers, Clayton, Jerry, and Joseph Wiederholt; sister, Sheila Rothgeb; sister-in-law, Jan Wiederholt; and brother-in-law, Rick Slater.

As it has been said, grief is just unexpressed love for the one we lost, so we take this moment to grieve and celebrate Yvonne, who showed us the truest meaning of love.

Funeral service will be 4:00 pm on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at D.O. McComb and Sons, Covington Knolls, Funeral Home, 8325 Covington Road, Fort Wayne, IN, with visitation two hours prior. Private burial at Covington Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Paradigm Hospice, 10020 Lima Road, Suite D, Fort Wayne IN 46818.