Clinton E. Kniep

Clinton Earl Kniep, 55, of Mount Ayr, passed away Jan. 16, 2024. A visitation will be held from noon-8 p.m., with the family present from 4-7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 21, at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 22, at the Mount Ayr United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery. Memorials are in his name to be decided.

Clint was born June 29, 1968, to Donna Moore and Ron Kniep in Creston. Clint was “somewhat welcomed” home by older sisters Diane and Karla. We say somewhat welcomed because oldest sister Diane loved having a baby brother and defended him to the death, while middle sister, Karla, loved him, but would have been happy not to have this newest addition disturb the “perfect” family she had. Clint was born early and was a very small baby, but he made up for it in the years to come. He grew so much because of the love that surrounded him and the love he had to give.

As a child he was always wreaking havoc and going on adventures with his best friends and neighbors, Chuck and Doug Williams. He had an imaginary friend, Dean, whom he blamed everything on - “Dean did it!” He rode his bike up and down main street of Bridgewater and loved going to the Bridgewater Station for pop and peanuts. He would go to Doris’ store in Bridgewater and charge snacks for all of his friends and himself to his dad’s account. He would often stop at his grandparents’ house on main street and he loved going to Clearfield to spend time with his cousins and grandparents. He grew up with cousin, Lester Elliott – raised more as his brother than cousin.

In high school, Clint moved to Clearfield and began attending Diagonal High School. He credits the friends he made there and coach, Dennis Tassel, for turning him into the man he became. He loved all activities and was active in basketball and baseball and class plays while in high school.

After high school, he attended one year at Southwestern Community College (to become an art teacher). He helped coach basketball and baseball at Diagonal for many years. He played slow pitch softball, league basketball and golf (lots and lots of golf). Later he moved back to Greenfield and worked at Cardinal Glass before eventually starting work on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and moving back to Diagonal.

In December 1997 he took Shaun Hayse out on their first date. He proposed to her in September 1998 and they were married March 20, 1999. Much to the chagrin of Clint, they lived on a farm east of Redding, which he complained was too far from the golf course.

The light of Clint’s world were his twins, Jillian and Tessa, who were born Aug. 23, 2004. Clint loved everything about being their daddy and he was the first on the floor with them to play tea party or dress up. He coached them in t-ball and basketball, and was the loudest one cheering in the stands, sometimes getting mad at Shaun for yelling “too loudly.” He was a fierce competitor, but an even fiercer advocate. He was loyal to a fault and always tried to find the good in others.

When Clint and Shaun built their home in Mount Ayr, closer to the golf course, he opened his doors for everyone. He loved hosting and cooking. He thought he was a better cook than Shaun (and probably was thanks to his Grandma Eileen), so Shaun let him think it and he did most of it, with her taking care of the baking and dishes. He loved to host his friends to play cards or watch the Hawkeyes.

The twin’s senior year when they got open campus, he enjoyed having a houseful for lunch. He often complained about the grocery bill, but he wouldn’t have had it any other way. He savored every moment with them – often texting Shaun about the antics and the funny stories he heard and saw at lunch. He adopted many kids throughout the years, and he made sure that they knew they always had a place in their home and a meal to come home to.

His world were his girls though, and he would do anything to make them happy. Shopping trips, watching endless plays when Shaun was directing, trips to Good Vibes with Tessa, cattle shows with Jillian, laying down with Tessa each night before bed, watching games with Jillian or movies with Shaun and taking her out to eat - Clint was always there for all of them. His love was big and the hole he has left is enormous.

Clint is survived by his wife of nearly 25 years, Shaun; daughters: Jillian and Tessa; mother Donna (Keith) Moore; sisters, Diane Long and Karla (Nic) Denney; stepmother, Becky Kniep; stepbrothers: Scott, Rob, Todd and Tim and their families; father-in-law, Preston Hayse (friend Bobbi Bainum); brother-in-law, Peter (Sally) Hayse; nieces, Amy Long and Heather Ecker; nephews: Jason, Jeremy (Hailey) Long, Josh (Paige) Hancock, Nathan (Hayley) Hogue and Kyle and Tyler (Sharon) Hayse; great-nieces: Madison Ecker, Rylann Long, Ivy Bessinine and Josie Long; great-nephews: Hayden Ecker, Tyler Rexroth, Booker Hogue and Brooks Hancock; special family friends, Todd and Angie Glendenning, Hannah (Nathan) Weeda and Blair Glendenning; uncles, aunts, cousins, many extended family members and friends who became family.

Clint was preceded in death by his father, Ron Kniep; nephew, Ben Dodge; mother-in-law, Katie Hayse; brother-in-law, Randy Long and nephew, Jon Ecker.