Della Irene (Weers) Knabe

Della Irene (Weers) Knabe, age 90, died Thursday, March 24, 2022 at Adams, NE.  She was born on October 25, 1931 in rural Diller to John and Minnie (Wenz) Weers.  Della was baptized into the Lutheran faith on December 21, 1931 and was a graduate of Diller High School. She also attended Fairbury Junior College and Pershing College in Beatrice.

Della married Wilmer Knabe on November 15, 1952 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Diller and they lived in Beatrice most of their married life. He passed away on March 15, 2014. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Beatrice and a long-time member of their Dorcas Society. Della also sang in the church choir, served as an organist, and taught Sunday School. She was a rural schoolteacher in Jefferson and Gage Counties for 5 ½ years and was a teacher at Martin Luther Home (now known as Mosaic) for 28 years. Della received an honorary Parent Teacher Association life membership pin. She gave many years of volunteer work at the Bargain Box and playing the piano at many nursing homes. She continued to play the piano even after entering the memory care unit at Gold Crest in Adams until Alzheimer’s took that ability away. Della liked to stay busy and did many helpful jobs when she lived at the Villa in Beatrice. Her hobbies were sewing, reading, walking, wrapping hangers, and playing the piano.

She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne (Steven) Philippi of Central City, NE; sons, Kent Knabe and Keith Knabe of Beatrice; 4 grandchildren, Nathan (Beth) Philippi of Kearney, NE, Dana (Mark) Coddington of Lexington, VA;  Patrick Knabe of Delray Beach, FL; and Monica (Casey)  Opperman of Lincoln; seven great-grandchildren; Seth, Bella, and Claire Philippi, Melody, Noelle, and Caleb Coddington, and Oliver Opperman; her sister Pauline Hatesohl Lindhorst of Clay Center, KS and sister-in-law Iola (Knabe) Ottersberg of Wymore, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Della was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, brothers and sisters-in law; Hilda Knabe, August and Elsie (Knabe) Duensing, Harold Ottersberg, Alvin and Helena Knabe, Arnold and Elaine Knabe, Elvin and Vera (Knabe) Eden, Melvin Hatesohl and Arlo Lindhorst.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 10th & High St. Beatrice, NE with Pastor Daryn Bahn officiating.  A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 a.m. in the fellowship hall of the church.  Burial will be at the Evergreen Home Cemetery in Beatrice, followed by a luncheon back at the church fellowship hall. Visitation will be held at the Harman-Wright Mortuary Noon – 8 pm Monday, March 28, 2022.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Beatrice or the Alzheimer’s Association.  A register book is also available online at www.harmanwrightmortuary.com for messages of condolence.  Harman-Wright Mortuary in charge of arrangements. 

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