Esther F. Knuth's Obituary
Esther was a daughter of Henry and Alvena Housman Oelgeschlager and spent most of her childhood and early adult life in Terre Haute, IN. She first came to Decatur in 1926 to teach at St. Johannes Lutheran School, operated at that time by what is now St. John’s Lutheran Church. In 1930 she returned to Indiana to care for her aging parents. Esther returned to Decatur and St. Johannes in 1934 to begin a 25 year teaching career during which time she became known affectionately by her students and members of the church as ”Miss Esther”. In 1946 she married Edmund Knuth, teacher and later principal at St. John’s. She retired from teaching in 1959 and continued to serve St. John’s as a volunteer in many capacities.
Surviving are her stepchildren: Rhoda Knuth of Decatur; Theodore Knuth of Clark Lake, MI.; Dorothy Kennedy of Renesselear, IN.; Eugene Knuth of San Antonio, TX.; William Knuth of Dallas, TX.; Judy Stephas of Ruthven, IA.; nephews, Charles and Bradley Cooper of Terre Haute, IN., and a large number of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.
Her parents; husband; sisters, Katherine and Mary; and Brother Paul preceded her in death.
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