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Libby Knepper-Muller

July 26, 1955 - June 25, 2020
Grandville, MI

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Visitation

Sunday, June 28, 2020
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Visitation

Sunday, June 28, 2020
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Visitation

Monday, June 29, 2020
10:00 AM EDT
Calvary Church
707 E. Beltline NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
Web Site

Service

Monday, June 29, 2020
11:00 AM EDT
Live Stream
Calvary Church
707 E. Beltline NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49501

Please wear a mask to the church service. Thank you.

Web Site

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Faith In Deeds
P.o. Box 908
Ada, MI 49301
Web Site

Keys For Kids
P.O.Box 1001
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Libby Knepper-Muller was an exceptionally generous person to know and to love. Her compassionate heart led her to many successes throughout her life. Libby loved to travel and was passionate about education. Although she will be deeply missed, her warm memories will forever be in the hearts of her many special friends and loved ones.

It seems only fitting that her story began during a time that was as vibrant as she was! It was the 1950s when James Dean was all the rage, Elvis Presley introduced the world to his Rock ’n Roll music, and the I Love Lucy show changed the way we looked at the American family. Amidst this exciting time was the year 1955, when Joel and Ramona (York) Knepper welcomed home their newborn daughter, Elizabeth, on July 26th in Augusta, Georgia. Born one of four children, she brought great joy and happiness into the family home.

Libby was very active as a child. She loved the outdoors including riding her bike and exploring the surrounding area. Raised by a Baptist pastor, their family moved around quite a bit, yet Libby never lacked for making friends in their new settings. She enjoyed singing in the choir and was involved in many church activities as a young adolescent. She graduated with the Class of 1974 from Sarasota High School in Florida. Ambitious as well as studious, Libby set her dreams on teaching and enrolled at Clearwater Christian College where she received her Bachelors’s degree with a minor in Bible and went on to earn her Master of Arts from Georgia College. Later, she received her Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education from Michigan State University.

Her successful career as an educator began at Westgate Christian Elementary school (Fla), Trinity Christian Elementary (Ga) and later Clearwater Christian College in the education department. In 1989, she came to Cornerstone College to help establish the teacher education department and was well-liked by the staff and students alike. By 2002, she accepted a teaching position at Central Michigan University as well as Michigan State University. Throughout her years at Central Michigan University, she taught education courses, was the leader in the department, and served as coordinator for student teaching placements. Libby was masterful in her craft and highly respected by her peers.

Independent for a large majority of her adulthood, Libby spent her summers traveling with friends. She had the pleasure of touring Germany, Sweden, and many places throughout Europe. She also enjoyed taking long road trips to New England. Libby loved her summers and spent most of them with her niece, Sheryl who would come for a visit each summer. The two of them enjoyed frequent trips to Grand Haven attending pop concerts as well as cheering on the Atlanta Braves and the Detroit Tigers. Not to be forgotten however was the meeting of Don Muller who would steal her heart forever. The two of them met at a picnic at Grace Bible Church standing at the empty coffee pot. Don ran to the gas station and got her coffee. Hitting it off from the start, Don asked her out to dinner and the rest was history! They joined in marriage on July 12, 2002, blending their families together. The happy couple honeymooned throughout the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Canada, Niagara Falls, as well as New Jersey.

Sharing many commonalities, Libby and Don enjoyed sharing time outdoors. They treasured making memories at their cottage in Barryton on weekends. Libby never sat idle. She enjoyed canning, making pickles, jams, and her popular apple butter. She also loved antiquing and taking annual Florida trips to visit family. Libby enjoyed all of the special pastimes of the Christmas season and always made batches of fudge, peanut butter balls, and pies. A great cook, each Sunday dinner was always very special. She would spend Saturday in preparation for the meal, but eventually enjoyed the crock pot for it. Most of all enjoyed spending quality time with her family.

In recent years, Libby enjoyed their swimming pool and attending local craft fairs. Intelligent and quick-witted, Libby also enjoyed reading and completing crosswords. The most important things in her life were the two brown children (her words) she adopted from India, Later she cherished the two grand kids that she helped care for weekly starting shortly after birth and called her Nana. She was a sweet Nana to her grandchildren and known for her special hugs. Libby modeled a life of Christian values. She was always supportive, easy-going, and wanted nothing but the best for her family. May her loved ones be comforted in knowing that she loved each and every one of them unconditionally. There is no doubt that her warm smile, her gift of listening, and her accepting ways will greatly be missed by her many special friends and family.

Elizabeth “Libby” Knepper-Muller, age 64, of Grandville, Michigan, passed away on June 25, 2020. Libby was born July 26, 1955, in Augusta, Georgia to the late Joel and Ramona (York) Knepper. She graduated from Clearwater Christian College, Georgia College and Michigan State University where she received her doctorate. Libby taught at Clearwater Christian College, Cornerstone University, MSU and Central Michigan University. Libby was passionate about God, her family and education. She is survived by her husband, Don Muller of Grandville; children, Stephen (Sara) Muller of Rockford, Emma Muller of Grandville, Bethana Muller of Grandville; stepson, Jerad Muller of Grand Rapids; grandchildren, Damien, Arianna, Ozzy, Gavin, Keean; sister, Ruth Knepper Marquith of (Tampa, FL) Grandville; and her aunt, uncle, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Libby was preceded in death by her brothers, John David Knepper and Paul Keith Knepper. A funeral service will be held on Monday, June 29, 2020, at 11 AM at Calvary Church, 707 E. Beltline Ave NE. Friends may visit with her family Sunday from 2-3:30 and 5-7 at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW and beginning at 10 AM at church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Faith In Deeds or Keys For Kids. To leave a memory or condolence visit www.heritagelifestory.com.

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