Mary Lou Knepper, 82, of Atwood, Ind., passed away at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, 2012, at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, Ind.

She was born June 4, 1930, in Warsaw, Ind., to Doyle G. and Sarah (Minard) Swanson. She was a 1948 Atwood High School graduate and attended two years at Manchester College, North Manchester, Ind., where she was working toward her teaching certificate. On Aug. 4, 1950, she married Jerry L. Knepper in Etna Green, Ind.

While in high school she worked for Warsaw Coil in its beginning when located in Bourbon and worked on the line for several years after the company’s move to Warsaw. She also worked in the catalog department for Sears and Roebuck (Warsaw) for several years and was a U.S. Postal rural mail carrier for Warsaw’s Route 4.

She was a member of Otterbein United Methodist Church, Atwood, Ind., where in years past she sang in the choir, served on its administration board and taught Sunday School; Prairie Township Home Ec Club; Kosciusko County Choir; Purdue Extension Choir; Girl Scout leader when Jackie was young – taught all of the girls how to sew on a treadle sewing machine; enjoyed sewing, quilting and crafts in general and entered projects in the open class competitions; in her earlier years she canned what was brought in from her garden; she enjoyed Nascar with Ryan Newman being her favorite driver.

Mrs. Knepper is survived by her husband: Jerry L. Knepper, Atwood; a daughter: Jackie (Jerry) Clase, Etna Green; three grandchildren: Karen (Richard) Olds, Warsaw, Ind.; Shelina Ann (Michael) Pring, St Joe, Ind.; George (Kelsey) Phillips, Etna Green; a stepgranddaughter: Kim (Jared Peters) Clase, Etna Green; 13 great-grandchildren; three great-great-granchildren: two brothers: Robert (Phyllis) Swanson, Warsaw; and Gary (Lura) Swanson, Warsaw.

She was preceded in death by a brother: Dan G. Swanson; and an infant daughter: Debra Kay Knepper.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 10 am. Saturday, July 28, at Otterbein United Methodist Church, Atwood. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 28, in the church. Burial will follow at Etna Green Cemetery, Etna Green.

Memorials may be made to Diabetes Association, 30 N. Michigan Ave. Suite 2015, Chicago, IL 60602.

Titus Funeral Home, Warsaw, is caring for the family.