Helen Marie KNETEN

KNETEN, Helen Marie
Helen Marie Diebel Kneten, 84, beloved by many, died peacefully at home on May 26 with her family at her side. Preceded in death by her husband, Walter J. Kneten, and daughter, Carol, she is survived by her son, John (& Patricia) Kneten, sister, Nancy (& Burk) Sherman, numerous nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Born in Topeka, Kansas, Helen moved to Austin with her parents in 1935. Graduating from Austin High, she went to work for Southwestern Bell and later the Lutheran Student Foundation at University of Texas.

She married in 1963 and moved to Seguin where Walter worked for Texas Lutheran College. Moving back to Austin in 1971, she and Walter joined Ascension Lutheran Church where Helen remained an active member for over 40 years. She worked as church secretary from 1971 until 1980 when she retired to provide full time care for her mother who suffered from Alzheimer's. After burying her beloved husband in 1992 and mother in 1994, Helen found herself again in the things she loved - travel, music, books, flowers and friendship. She was always ready to go, be it touring Europe or camping in Colorado. Opera and classical music infused her with joy. A prolific reader, she particularly enjoyed novels, history and biography. She loved to garden and for many years grew the most beautiful irises. A quiet person by nature, Helen, nonetheless, was fun loving and enjoyed the company of others. She rarely missed Saturday morning book club or Wednesday morning dominoes with friends. She was a keen observer, open minded, a life-long learner with a passion for democracy and justice.

Please join us at an open house to celebrate her life at Ascension Lutheran Church, 6420 Hart Lane, Austin, on Monday, June 1, from 4:30-7:30pm. A memorial service will be held at Ascension on Tuesday at 11:00am. Interment will follow at Guadalupe Valley Memorial Park, New Braunfels at 3pm.

Helen was a supporter of and contributor to Bread for the World, a non-denominational Christian organization dedicated to the eradication of hunger both domestically and abroad and also of Lutheran World Relief that works to provide lasting solutions to poverty, injustice and human suffering.
She also was an avid supporter and appreciator of public broadcasting. KLRU-TV is the Austin PBS affiliate.

In lieu of flowers, we would ask you to consider a donation to any of these organizations or the charity of your choice. www.bread.org; www.lwr.org; www.klru.com