Let Us Pause To Honor the Memory of Rev. Chester Landon Kneir
Rev. Chester Landon Kneir, age 84, of Madison, Indiana formerly of Missouri entered this life on June 22, 1936 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where he was raised. He was the loving son of the late Samuel and Minnie Hawks Kneir. Inducted into the United States Army on October 30, 1956 at Alexandria, Virginia, he rose to the rate of Specialist 3 (T) and served in Ordnance Company C. He was honorably discharged on April 10, 1958 at Fort Hood, Texas. Chester was united in marriage on June 5, 1959 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri to Shirley Lucille Hickerson. This happy union of nearly 62 years was blessed with sons, Mark Landon and Alan Lee and a daughter, Julie Lynette. He was currently serving as the interim Pastor at the Madison First Church of the Nazarene in Madison, Indiana. He attended college at Central Methodist, St. Paul Theological Seminary in Kansas City Missouri and completed a four-year course of study with the Church of the Nazarene. Rev. Kneir was ordained as an elder in the Church of the Nazarene on August 6, 1970. His 59-year pastoral ministry began at Wardell Church of the Nazarene serving there from 1963-1965, followed by the United Methodist Sturgeon Circuit from 1965-1966; Parkway Church of the Nazarene from June 1966 to January 1974; Lemay Church of the Nazarene from January 1974 to August 1979; Malden First Church of the Nazarene from August 1979 to February 1983; Cape Girardeau First Church of the Nazarene from February 1983 to November 1988; and Duncan Oak Avenue Church of the Nazarene from November 1988 to September 1995; and with Parkway Church of the Nazarene from 1995 until June 2003. He officially retired on June 22, 2003, but he was not done yet with his ministry. He served as interim pastor for several congregations, including Bowling Chapel in Crane, Missouri from 2005-2007; Mt. Vernon First Church of the Nazarene from July 2010 to May 2012; then South County Church of the Nazarene (formerly Lemay) from November 2016 to 2018. He also served the Nazarene Church in other capacities as well, including the Missouri District Advisory Board for six years; the Missouri District Board of Ministerial Credentials for 18 years; the Missouri District Court of Appeals for three years; the Missouri District Camp Board for nine years; as editor of the Missouri District Messenger for five years; on the Missouri District Nominating Committee for 21 years; on the Missouri District Evangelism Committee for three years; as the Missouri District Sunday School Adult Director for five years; Missouri Church Properties and Home Missions Board for five years and Pastoral Advisory Committee at Southeast Hospital for three years and the Ministerial Alliance for many years. Rev. Kneir was not your ordinary Nazarene minister! He enjoyed trying his hand at many other opportunities which kept him busy. His motto was “I will do that when I am resting.” He had served as a newspaper editor at the Malden Tri County News; was a rural mail carrier in St. Clair, Missouri, and was a licensed funeral director for Casey and Lenox Funeral Home in St. Clair, Missouri. Among his enterprises were Poppy’s Dinner Bucket in Crane, Missouri, where he perfected his own barbecue sauce and smoked meats; raising Beefmaster cattle, which was known as Double KK Beefmaster; Hwy 53 Lawn and Garden Center, wholesaling garden and floral products; and owner/operator of an apartment complex. Pastor Kneir loved gardening and he always raised a large garden to help feed his family and many others. In his spare time, he could be found fishing, barbecuing, riding horses, or refinishing furniture. He was currently very excited to be welcoming a new great grandson in July, named Walker Kyle Wright. His travels and ministry had led him to reside in St. Clair, Missouri, St. Louis, Missouri, Duncan, Oklahoma, Richmond Hill, Georgia and Madison, Indiana. He was a devoted husband, loving dad, and Poppy. Pastor Kneir died on Monday, February 8, 2021, at 10:27 a.m. at the King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison, Indiana.
A LOVING FAMILY
Pastor Kneir will be missed by his loving wife of nearly 62 years, Shirley Lucille Hickerson Kneir of Madison, Indiana; his sons, Mark Landon Kneir and his wife, Brenda of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Alan Lee Kneir and his wife, Revonda of St. Louis, Missouri; his daughter, Julie Lynette Kneir Adams and her husband, Carey of Hanover, Indiana; his grandchildren, Heather Martin, Cody Kneir, Christie Wright (Ethan), Evan Adams, Hannah Henderson (Zach), Ethan Reker, Jeff Reker, and Amy Elliot; his great grandchildren, Addison Martin, Paisley Martin, Carson Reker, Kainen Reker, and Ava Reker; several step grandchildren and step great grandchildren; his brothers, Rev. Vernon Kneir and his wife, Peggy of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Elvin “Sonny” Kneir and his wife, Mary of Williamsville, Missouri; his sister, Naomi Scheps of Missouri City, Texas; his brother-in-law, Ronald Hickerson and his wife, Diana of Gillett, Texas; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his father, Samuel Kneir, his mother, Minnie Hawks Kneir, his brothers, Charles Kneir and Verlin Kneir, his granddaughter, Amanda Elliott, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Rev. Rudolph and Jennie Alice Hickerson.
FUNERAL CEREMONY
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, February 27, 2021, at 1:00 p.m., by Dr. Ronald Blake, Dr. Mike Palmer, Rev. Vernon Kneir, Rev. Jason Lipscomb and Rev. Ray Burnet at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery,1415 North Gate Road in Madison, Indiana.
VISITATION
Friends may visit Saturday February 27, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana.
MILITARY HONORS
A final salute and military honors will be conducted by the Major Samuel Woodfill Post No. 9 of the American Legion.
MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS
Memorial contributions may be made as a love gift to the donor’s pastor or the Madison First Church of the Nazarene parking lot fund. Cards are available at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centres of Madison and Hanover. Online condolences, remembrances, and memorials can be left at www.morgan-nay.com