Hazel Ruth (Landis) Knepper

Hazel (Landis) Knepper, 97, of Berlin was welcomed into the loving arms of Jesus August 31, 2016 at Somerset In-Touch Hospice.  She was born in Stonycreek Twp. near Downey on September 28, 1918, the daughter of Norman and Edna (Engle) Landis.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Emerson L. Knepper, daughter Linda Knepper Brant, brothers: Ernest “Champ”, Robert, and William Landis, and sister Betty Cober.  She is survived by sons: Ronald Knepper (Helen Ann Hillegass), Andover, Mass., David Knepper, Arlington, Va., Richard Knepper (Ann Smith), Ligonier, and Thomas Knepper, Berlin; grandchildren: Timothy Knepper (Catherine), Steven Knepper (Heidi), Karen Knepper Bushey (Matt), Douglas Knepper (Rosanne), Laurie Brant, Greg Brant (Jessica), Scott Brant (Jocelyn), Dan Knepper (Lisa), Julie Knepper Updyke  (Ben), and Kathryn Knepper; step-grandchildren: Amanda, Justin, Ashley, Daniel, and Robert Gunn; 14 great-grandchildren; and brother Norman Landis Jr. (Gyneth).  She was a long-time member of Brothersvalley Church of the Brethren. Hazel was born on a small farm in the days before electricity came to rural Pa., and worked hard as a young girl helping to cook and clean, and do the chores that came with a large family.  Later, she became a registered nurse, having completed training at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia.  Her sweetheart Emerson made the trip east over the hills on Route 30 to Philadelphia often to court her in a rickety Ford.  In the spring when the apple trees were in blossom, Emerson and Hazel were married in Winchester, Va.  She worked as a nurse for a time, and when children came, she became a farm wife, helping her husband raise four boys and a girl, as well as manage a thriving dairy farm.  She loved her children and her friends well, and was always willing to help anyone in need.  She often served as a nurse for the local community, administering care to neighbors suffering from various ailments. Family will receive friends 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Deaner Funeral Home, Berlin. Viewing from 1 p.m. until service at 2 p.m. Saturday at Brothersvalley Church of the Brethren, Brotherton. Rev. Gary Green officiating. Interment Brotherton Pike Cemetery, Berlin. Donations can be made to Somerset In Touch Hospice, P.O. Box 1173, Somerset, Pa. 15501, or Windber Hospice, 600 Somerset Ave., Windber, Pa. 15963. DeanerFuneralsAndCremations.com.

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