Cynthia Knipfer

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend, Cynthia Sue Kepler Knipfer, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, October 23rd, at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska. She was 79 years old.
Cindy was born on July 20, 1946 in Berea, Ohio to Chester Sterling Kepler Jr, and Nadine Alda Mohler Kepler. Cindy was born nine months after her father returned from the European Theater at the end of World War II. Like many millions of Americans born in 1946, she was a very proud Baby Boomer.
Cindy loved her family very much. Some of her greatest memories include growing up in a large family boasting seven siblings. She was the second of seven, yet she would consistently inform everyone that the three oldest sisters "ruled the roost." If you knew the Kepler Girls, you indeed knew this to be true. Up until the very end of her days, she still repeated her sibling's names in order every day: Deani, Cindy, Polly, Gary, Laurie, Leslie, Tim. She had a nice cadence and a bit of a witty quip about her when doing so.
Community was a value Cindy carried and modeled her entire life. She was born and raised in the Free Methodist Church, which she loved dearly. Her love of community continued as she joined the Girl Scouts of America. She led a long life as a girl scout, from girl-hood, to teenage life, to Girl Scout Leader, and Girl Scout Camp Director. Cindy was a local coordinator of annual Girl Scout Cookie Sales for the Susitna Girl Scout Council. Cindy loved taking her Girl Scout Troops to Camp Togowoods and Camp Singing Hills where she was summer camp director. She also served as a Boy Scout Den Mother and encouraged her son and his friends to attend the Camp Gorsuch Boy Scout Jamborees. Cindy was exceptionally dedicated to all activities and organizations in which her children were involved, She was the noon duty at Chugiak Elementary in the late 70's and early 80's. She ran a tight ship! She also served in leadership and volunteer positions within the PTA, Knik Little League, and the Mustang Hockey Association. She volunteered many hours and her services for the Chugiak Chaparral Drill Team, Chugiak Swing Choir, and Chugiak High Hockey program. Cindy's church home has always been a point of pride. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years. She loved volunteering with many women' s groups and programs. She was diligently involved with the church prayer chain and believed deeply in the power of prayer. She served on the founding committee which designed, created, and implemented both the building and vision of Skyline Family Fellowship on Eagle River Loop Road.
Cindy was a proud member of the graduating class of 1964 at Belmont High School in Dayton, Ohio. The "Belmont Bisons" were her favorite mascot. She thoroughly enjoyed all of her classmates and school events. She was very proud that her High School Basketball team won the State Championship in 1964. Cindy met her future husband at a young age as he was the brother of her next door neighborhood girlfriend on Holly Ave, in Dayton, Ohio. Cindy tells the story that she saw him through the window and then came out on the porch once he left, asking his sister..... "Who Is That Boy?!" Many years later, Cindy officially met Dale in 1966 at Dr. Heywood's Office in Dayton, Ohio where she worked as a Medical Assistant. He had come to the office for a physical as required by the US Draft for the Vietnam War. Cindy had the pleasure of drawing his blood, and as they say...."the rest is history."
Dale proposed marriage over the pay phone from Randolph Air Force Base in the summer of 1967. In those days, it cost a lot of money to call from Texas to Ohio, and you had to have enough coins on hand to continue a call without the call being cut off by the operator. Mom quickly said yes! That December, Cindy drove to Texas in her Navy Blue 1967 Volkswagen Beetle Bug, accompanied by her beloved Grandmother, Nurna Mohler. Dale and Cindy were married in a simple ceremony on December 23, 1967 at Chapel One on Randolph AFB in San Antonio, Texas. Dale had enlisted in the Air Force, rather than be drafted to Vietnam. He soon received his overseas assignment orders for Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, Alaska, Dale and Cindy then drove from Texas to Anchorage, arriving the first week of July, 1968. Dale and Cindy never left Alaska. They soon had Natalie, Alison, and Vaughn in whom they instilled a life long love of Alaskan Life.
Cindy's first job in Anchorage was in the lab at Providence Hospital. She then worked for Dr. Mc Murtry and Alaskan Pioneer Dr. Marcell Jackson. Cindy worked for the Anchorage School District as a noon duty where she was also recognized Volunteer of the Year. Subsequently, Cindy worked at Alaska Regional Hospital, and the Geneva Woods Surgical Center. Her final position was working as the Office Manager for Dr. Micheal Orzechowski for many years.
Cindy loved the art of homemaking, She delighted in baking and cooking. Her first love was sewing. Her Sears Singer Sewing Machine was her only personal possession outside of her
suitcase that rode up with her in the VW BUG that summer of 1968. Cindy was renowned for her hand made Halloween Costumes where her pieces often won first prize. Cindy also loved flowers and flower arranging, She worked part time for many years at Flowerama. She made endless prom corsages and boutonnieres for her children and her children's friends. Later in life, Cindy developed a passion for embroidery. She made embroidered items for everyone she knew, and many that she did not. If you've ever eaten at Pizza Man in Eagle River, Alaska, she made the curtains and the aprons.
Cindy Knipfer was a bright, dedicated, and life-loving woman. If you ever attended a Chugiak High School Hockey game, you knew she was there with her cowbell and "Floater!!!" at the ready. Cindy committed her life values of love and community to her husband, her children, her grandchildren, her family, her church, and her community.
She is predeceased by her father, Chester Sterling Kepler Jr., and her mother Nadine Mohler Kepler. She is survived by her husband Dale Knipfer; her children Natalie Burnett (Pete), Alison Knipfer, Vaughn Knipfer (Valerie); her grandchildren Rebecca, Andi (Stephanie), Riley, Chandler, Parker, Owen, Jacob, Emory, Korbin, and Kinley: her siblings Deanie, Polly, Gary, Laurie, Leslie, and Tim. She is also survived by multiple cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Susitna Girl Scout Council of Alaska, The Salvation Army of Alaska, or the Food Bank of Alaska.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, October 28 at 4:30 pm at Skyline Family Fellowship at 18239 N Eagle River Loop Rd, Eagle River, Alaska.

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