Lyra J. Krall

1928 - 2022

Lyra Jane Knauf Krall, 94, passed away peacefully in her daughter's home on Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022.

She was born on Jan. 24, 1928, in Fulda, Ind., to Helen and Pius Holtzman.

Lyra attended Dale High School in Dale, Ind., and in 1948, fell in love and married Ernst Knauf. Together they raised five children, to whom she devoted her life. After Ernie died, she met her second love, Howard Krall, and had 11 joyous years traveling, golfing, and enjoying family and friends.

Lyra was an accomplished seamstress, sewing everything from prom dresses to dress shirts to Barbie doll clothes –whatever was needed by her family at the time. She was also a fabulous cook and her spaghetti, homemade donuts, and chicken noodle soup were favorites among her children and grandchildren.

Every Sunday morning after church, all her children and grandchildren gathered at her home where they would enter a house filled with warmth and welcome and laughter and the good food she had prepared. It was there that her grandchildren discovered "cousin bonding" in the very best way, and her legacy of family gathering lives on, even today.

Lyra had various part-time jobs in her lifetime, including dining room girl, sales person, playground monitor, office assistant at DeeBlast Corp., and, the place she was most in her element, Maggie's Fabric Shop. She was the original workout queen, exercising in front of the TV with Jack LaLane and later at the YMCA with pearls and earrings. She became an avid golfer later in life and also loved playing cards with her friends at the Whitcomb (Hello, Alyce).

Home and family, though, were her real passions and those who knew her were blessed to be touched by her quiet kindness and generosity. She is survived by her five children: Elaine (Jim) Schueneman, Marlene (Mike) Johnson, Fritz Knauf, Mitzi (Dave) Tompkins, Mary Jane (Tom) Wolf; stepsons: Al Knauf and David (Christy) Krall; her grandchildren: Mitzi Kalin, Micah Johnson, Mia Cook, Ernie Knauf, Chelsey Nelson, Carly (Bryan) Knauf, Deke Tompkins, Jimmy Tompkins, Fritz Tompkins, Tommy Wolf, Tessa Lee, Cubby Wolf, Abbey Graham, Lindsay Krall, Katie Krall, Troy Fite, Jon Knauf, Chris Knauf, Alex Knauf, Dustin Schueneman, Brian Schueneman, Emily Nannfeldt; great-grandchildren: Lyra Potter, Lucy Baiers, Abbi Kalin, Harry Kalin, Charlie Kalin, Aurora Cook, Ricky Cook, Desi Cook, Penny Knauf, Rocky Knauf, Peter Tompkins, Lily Tompkins, Jeri Tompkins, Mitzi Tompkins, Max Wolf, Lincoln Lee, Sonny Lee, Lilly Lee; two sisters: Leola Stein and Margie Helming; and her special friends: Shirley and Anne.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Ernst Knauf; her second husband, Howard Krall; two grandsons: Jacob and Lucas Potter; and her sisters: Alice Jent and Joanne Philipps.

Family and friends are invited for a visitation at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 23 at Saron Lutheran Church, followed by a celebration of life service at 11 a.m. at the church. A luncheon will follow in the church basement.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Soup Kitchen, where Lyra volunteered for many years through her church.

Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.