Esther Schrimper Knueven

Spring Grove Funeral Home is Assisting the Family

Obituary via Spring Grove Funeral Home

Esther Schrimper Knueven, beloved mother, wife, and friend, was born on May 15, 1925, on a dairy farm in Reading, OH, to her parents Frederick Schrimper and Emma Sandmann.

She grew up with her brother, Fred Schrimper, and adopted sister Helen Mae Duff. She started writing to a girl in New Zealand through a class project in 1937, who became a life long friend.

Esther graduated from Reading High School in 1943 and worked at Stearns & Foster as a secretary and an accountant. Her work ethic made her career a priority, eventually becoming secretary to the president at the company headquarters in Lockland.

She married her husband Albert Knueven in 1946, and built a new house on Columbia Avenue in Reading in the late 40s. She and Al enjoyed traveling together, and visited Canada, Hawaii, Oregon and California together. They enjoyed two trips to New Zealand to meet her pen pal. Esther would eventually make her way to all 50 US states.

Esther and Al welcomed their son Philip in 1965. They continued to travel, and drove all over the US with him. She worked while raising him until retiring from Stearns in 1984. She then went on to work at the Syrian Shriner Temple as an accountant for about 5 years. After ending her employment with the Temple, she stepped up to help out as a secretary to an accountant during the busy tax seasons.

She would eventually move to Milford with her son and daughter-in-law Karen to help raise her grandchildren, Elizabeth and Alex Knueven.

When she wasn’t enjoying time with her beloved family or grandchildren, Esther enjoyed collecting stamps or sharpening her skills on the organ, which she played for decades.

In her later years, Esther moved to Traditions, a senior living facility, where she was an engaged member of the community of people her age.

Esther passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on September 13, 2023, at the age of 98. She is survived by her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren who will miss her strong will, fierce love and determined spirit.

Her family and friends will gather to celebrate her life with a visitation on Friday, September 22 with a visitation from 10 am to 12 pm, and a funeral service to follow at Spring Grove Funeral Home 8633 Reading Road, Reading, OH 45215. A 1 pm service will follow at her resting place at Arlington Memorial Gardens in Mount Healthy.

In lieu of flowers, her family has requested donations made in her name to Queen City Hospice. Donations can be made online at QueenCityHospice.com or mailed to Queen City Hospice at 4605 Duke Drive, Suite 220, Mason, Ohio 45040.