Kathleen Plog Kloepfer Knippler

Kathleen Plog Kloepfer Knippler, a twenty year Middlebury, VT resident, formerly from Poughkeepsie, NY, died at home on December 19, 2010 at 6 PM with her loving family by her side, after a courageous six year battle with metastatic breast cancer.

Born in Niskayuna, NY, she was the daughter of Arthur D. and JoAnn (Neuwirth) Plog, Sr.

On April 24, 1993, in Mead Chapel, Middlebury, VT, and with ever-lasting love, she married her best friend, sweetheart, and love of her life, Robert (Rob) J. Knippler, who survives. Months later, on January 8, 1994, they were married again in the Catholic Church and Kathleen liked to tell everyone that "we have such a special love, we were married twice!"

Along with her husband [and parents], survivors include her beloved, adored son, David G. Kloepfer (the joy and crown-jewel of her life), and his wonderful wife Megan, of Middlebury, VT; one delightful granddaughter, Mary Jensen, Middlebury, VT; her brother and sister-in-law, Arthur (Dan) and Phyllis Plog, Pleasant Valley, NY; her in-laws, Arthur and Helen Knippler, Poughkeepsie, NY; Arthur and Bernadette Knippler, Randolph, VT; John Kloepfer, Poughkeepsie, NY; two nephews, Michael and Bryan Plog; two nieces, Katie Knippler and Jennifer Kloepfer; cousins, Bob Brown and Chris Kelsey, who were more like her brother and sister, and their spouses Graciela and Randy; eight first-cousins whom she always held very close in her heart; four very dear aunts; two uncles; more cousins and friends, as well as her life-long friends, Illna and Marshall Crodelle and Niki and Bob Offerman and each of their daughters. She was predeceased by her first husband, Gerald D. Kloepfer in 1984. Her beloved "puppy" Lily left her side in the summer of 2007 after 13 ½ years of pure mutual devotion.

Kathleen's greatest joy and comfort in life was spending time at home with her wonderful husband and her son and his family. She had a passion for decorating and designing and loved gardening, traveling, reading, sailing/sail-racing with her husband, helping others, and spending time with dear friends.

She was a graduate of Roy C. Ketcham High School and a proud graduate, with honors, of Dutchess Community College with an associate degree in business administration.

Kathleen worked at IBM, Ulster Savings Bank, and Central Hudson Gas and Electric before moving to Vermont where she worked for five years as an executive assistant to Olin Robison, president emeritus of Middlebury College and president of the Salzburg Seminar. After his retirement, she moved on to become the assistant to the secretary of the college at Middlebury College for over 14 years, as well as the college's commencement coordinator for 15 years. She felt lucky to be part of the college community and considered them her second family.

The funeral memorial will be at 10 AM on January 8th at Holy Trinity Church in Poughkeepsie, NY. Because Kathleen donated her body to science, her ashes will be interred at a later date in the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery, Poughkeepsie, NY. A memorial service will also be held at 11 AM on January 15th at Middlebury College Mead Chapel in Middlebury, VT.

Our family wishes to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who offered their love and support to Kathleen and our family. Kathleen (and we) especially thank Dr. Dennis Sanders, her nurses Bill Perron and Shelly Bonnett, and the wonderful, compassionate staff at Vermont Center for Cancer Medicine, along with all of her wonderful friends and constant supporters, particularly Julie Hoyenski, Stephanie Neil, Jayshree Ranka, and Suzanne Kanaly. Special thanks goes out to the staff at Addison County Home Health and Hospice who gave us the greatest gift in a time of need, particularly Kathryn LaFramboise, RN.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT; Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, NY; the Middlebury Teen Center; or a hospice center of your choice.