KNEEN, Shelby F.

KNEEN, FOSTER, SUMMERS, CULVER

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 6/14/2025 at 19:18:52

Shelby F. Kneen, 79, long time Cherokee, Iowa resident passed away Wednesday, December 29th, 1999, at the Sioux Valley Memorial Hospital in Cherokee following a lengthy illness.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 3rd at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Burial will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery at Cherokee.

He was born on March 30, 1920, in Austin, Minnesota to John T. and Maude (Foster) Kneen. He graduated from Wilson High School in Cherokee in the Class of 1941. He entered the U.S. Army and served in the Air Corp during World War II. He was married to Roby Summers on June 5, 1943, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was the manager of the local hamburger shop for a number of years. He also farmed; an occupation that he dearly loved. He worked as a Federal Meat Inspector for a few years, retiring in 1978. His home as at 541 Park Ave; having lived in Cherokee most of his life. Shelby recently chose the risk of his second open heart surgery trying to improve his quality of life. He was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Ducks Unlimited, and the Cherokee Ridge runners at the Little Sioux Wildlife Rendezvous. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and the Thursday Night Card Club of which he had enjoyed for decades.

He is survived by his wife, Ruby, one son and one daughter: Terry Kneed and his wife Dulcie of Springfield, Oregon; Nancy Kneed of Kearney, Nebraska; 3 grandchildren: Austin, Molly and Kaelin Kneen; one brother and one sister: Marvin Kneen of Deerwood, Minnesota; Elizabeth Culver of Des Moines, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by one son Michael Kneen, his parents, and two brothers, Chet and Merle Kneen.

(Source: Former Cherokee County Historical Society scrapbook; hand dated 12-30-99)