Kathryn F. Kniep

Kathryn Faith Kniep, 62, of Harrisville died on Sunday, May 11, 2014 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Saginaw, Mich. She was born November 5, 1951 in Harrisville to Benno and Ellen (Walraven) Fritz. She was raised in Harrisville and graduated from Harrisville High School in 1969. She attended Saginaw Valley State University and received an associate degree in the English curriculum from Alpena Community College. She married Arthur H. Kniep on October 5, 1975 at their home on Dock Street in Harrisville. Mrs. Kniep worked for several years with the HeadStart preschool program in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She was a staff writer for the Alpena News for several years before starting the All Alcona Almanac, a weekly newspaper in Harrisville, with her husband Arthur, brother Patrick Fritz and sister-in-law Jane Fritz. She was a writer and editor for the publication from 1981 to 1983 In the mid-1980s she began writing the column “Puttin’ on the Fritz” for the Alcona County Review. She also contributed many news stories, in addition to her weekly column, over the last 18 years writing for the Review. She was an accomplished writer who published fiction, nonfiction and poetry in several venues. Mrs. Kniep was a grant writer for the community service division of Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency (NEMCSA) from 1986 to 2000. She was the administrative assistant for Weiner & Burt Law Firm of Harrisville from June 2000 to 2005, when she retired. She was a life-long member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Harrisville and was a member of the vestry, editor of the church newsletter and hostess for coffee hour for numerous years. She was the clerk for the City of Harrisville for many years. Mrs. Kniep was on the Alcona Community Schools Board of Education from 1994 to 2006 and was the president of the board for many years during her tenure. In 2003 she became board member for the Harrisville Depot Preservation Group and published a children’s book entitled “The Dragon that Lives at the Depot.” She was a board member for Alcona Local Foods Association (ALFA) for several years and was a member of the local chapter of the post-polio support group. She was also the lead singer for the Sunrise Jammers, a group of local musicians who performed in the area for several years in 2000s. She enjoyed reading, writing, gardening, crafts, singing, walking along the beach of “Lady Huron” and spending time with her family, extended family and numerous friends. Mrs. Kniep is survived by her husband, Arthur; one daughter, Katrina (A.J.) Wouters of Harrisville; one granddaughter, Phoenix Wouters; one step grandson, Kaiden Wouters; one brother, Michael (Virginia) Fritz of Harrisville; and one sister-in-law, Jane White of Harrisville. She was preceded in death by her father on November 15, 1978; her mother on July 22, 1980; and one brother, Patrick Fritz, on January 19, 2002. Visitation will be Friday, May 16 from 2 to 8 p.m. at Gillies Funeral Home, Harrisville. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 17 at 11 a.m.at St. Andrew’s-by-the-lake-Episcopal Church in Harrisville. The Rev. Ron Otto will officiate. Memorial donations may be made to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 52, Harrisville, Mich. 48740; the Alcona Humane Society, 457 W. Traverse Bay, Lincoln, Mich.; or a charity of the donor’s choice. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kathryn F. Kniep, please visit our flower store.