Obituary of Jerry Knipper

DYERSVILLE, IOWA

Joseph G. “Jerry” Knipper, 89, of Dyersville, passed away Tuesday, December 24, 2024, in Dyersville, surrounded by his family.

Visitation will be held from 2 – 5 pm Sunday, December 29, 2024, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville.  Visitation will continue from 9:30 – 10:30 am Monday morning at the funeral home prior to the funeral mass.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am Monday, December 30, 2024, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville with burial in the church cemetery.  Rev. Dan Knipper will officiate, and Rev. Philip Agyei will concelebrate.  Military Honors will be accorded by American Legion Post 137.

Jerry was born February 21, 1935, near Earlville, Iowa, son of Andrew and Theresa (Bruggeman) Knipper.  He attended Lebo country school and graduated from Xavier High School with the Class of 1953.  He served in the US Army from 1957—1959, having been stationed in Japan during that time.  He married Donna Mae Dingbaum on August 24, 1963, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville.  He and Donna began farming on the family farm on County Road X-47.  He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Basilica, was a 4-H Leader, a member of the Bi-County Ambulance Board, Rural Fire Board, and was North Fork Township Trustee.

Survivors include his children: Karen (Curt) Espeland of Kingsport, TN, Kurt (Kathy) Knipper of Dyersville and a son-in-law, Mitchell McCoy of Des Moines;  grandchildren: Zachary (Lucy), Bennett, Matthew and Marcus Espeland, Nicholas, Aaron (friend DeLainy Fellinger) and Lucas Knipper, Isabella McCoy and two step grandchildren, Annemarie McCoy and Elizabeth (James Critelli) McCoy;  siblings: Norma Cassidy of Bettendorf, Anna (Bernie) Manternach of Monticello and Reverend Daniel Knipper of Decorah;  in-laws: Katie Knipper of Dyersville and Betty Lois Koelker of Manchester, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Donna Mae in 2010, a daughter, Karla Jo Knipper in 2013; siblings: Larry Knipper, Norman Knipper and 2 infant twin brothers; in-laws: Merald (Doris) Dingbaum, Kathleen (Robert) Mohr, Louis Koelker, JoAnn (Michael) McCauley, John Cassidy and a nephews, Peter and David Knipper.

Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville is assisting the family.  Information is available at www.kramerfuneral.com.