Miriam E. Knisely

Miriam E. Knisely, 84, of Zanesfield, formerly of Marion, passed away at 7:13 a.m. on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at Hearth and Home in Urbana, because of complications from severe dementia. She was born in Sycamore, Ohio on March 25, 1939, to the late Edward and Ruth (Lawrence) Margraf.

On October 4, 1958, she married John M. Knisely, and he survives.

She is also survived by her children, Joel (Frieda) Knisely of Walden, New York, and Jill (Terry) McKellop of Zanesfield; grandchildren, Kendra (Aaron) Howard of Zanesfield, Kayla McKellop of Marion, Christina Settles of New York; and Alex Rhea of Nevada; great grandchildren, Theodore Howard, Iris Howard, and Harley Settles; and several nieces and nephews.

Along with her parents, Miriam was preceded in death by a great grandson, Noah Howard; brother and sister-in-law, Gerald, and Doris Margraf; and brother-in-law, James Knisely.

Miriam was employed at GTE in Marion, Ohio from 1957-1958.  It was there that she met her future husband, John. Miriam worked at the Marion Public Library as the clerk treasurer and retired in 2000 after 20 years. She was an avid card-player who especially enjoyed bridge.  In 2002, she achieved the status of Bridge Life Master through the ACBL. When Miriam and John moved to Zanesfield they helped establish the Logan County Bridge Club in 2001. Miriam was a guitar player who wrote her own song lyrics, a golfer who excelled on the putting green, and an extensive traveler.   She had an excellent sense of direction and an uncanny ability to remember points of interest from travel destinations fifty years in the past. Miriam will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Pastor Paul Burgeson will officiate a funeral service at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, February 23, 2024, at the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 321 N. Main Street, Bellefontaine. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service on Friday, February 23^rd from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home. A graveside service will begin at 2:30 p.m. at the Chapel Heights Memory Gardens, 2622 Marion-Upper Sandusky Rd, Marion, Ohio.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Dementia Society of America, P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901, or Day City Hospice, 7601 Paragon Road, Suite 203, Dayton, OH 45459.

KVH