Richard Knaebel

Richard Wendell Knaebel of West Palm Beach, Fla., went to entertain the angels Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2003.

He was born Dec. 22, 1954, in Hollywood, Fla., and raised in Jefferson City, Mo.

For most of his professional life, he worked as a health-care accountant. He was a former controller of Jupiter Medical Center, and until recently disabled, was assistant controller of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County. He earned both a bachelor's degree in accounting and an MBA.

He was the beloved husband of Sharon K. Parsons, who survives. He is survived by his mother, Catherine Jones Knaebel; sisters, Jeanne Schwaller and Elizabeth Bax, all of Jefferson City; a daughter Sarah Knaebel Moellman and husband Greg of Greenwood, Mo.; a son, Shawn Knaebel and wife Amanda of Overland Park, Kan.

He also leaves to cherish his memory two stepdaughters, S. Michelle McBride Sinn and husband Shannon of Cape Girardeau, Erin McBride Owens and husband Efrem of West Palm Beach; a foster daughter, Mona Redmon Knapp and husband Joe of Washington, Mo.; two stepgrandchildren, Matthew and Abbigail Sinn of Cape Girardeau; and a godson, Twain Easton Glas of Palm Beach Shores, Fla. He is also much grieved by his extended family, his mother-in-law, Juanita Dowd Parsons, and all of his brothers and sisters-in-law.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Joseph Knaebel.

He was greatly loved for his humor, kindness, goodness, and zest for life. He suffered from an aggressive brain tumor and yet this did not dampen his spirit. He jokingly wanted to be "dependent" (waited upon) but in truth his family and friends were all dependent upon his love and presence. As much as any human being can be, he was perfect. He was, in the truest sense of the word, a blessing to all who knew and loved him. Because of his love for birds, everyone he touched will know that his soul is soaring when they see a bird in flight. He leaves an irreplaceable void in the lives of all those whom he touched.

A special thanks to our friend and physician, Dr. Gabriele Knaus-Frenette, the caregivers at Hospice of Palm Beach County, and the staff at the Kaplan Center at St. Mary's Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity or one of the following organizations; Old Union Methodist Church in Marble Hill, Mo., Northwood Methodist Church in West Palm Beach, The Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs scholarship programs at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Old Union Methodist Church.

A memorial service will be held Jan. 1 in Jefferson City, with visitation at Reid Millard Funeral Home from 4 to 6 p.m.

A memorial service will be held Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. at Northwood United Methodist Church in West Palm Beach.

The memorial service in Baton Rouge will be announced later.

When the family gets together, there is one we fail to see.

It fails our hearts with sadness thinking of what used to be.

God took you home, it was His will ... but oh, how our hearts break still.

The memory of you is as clear today as at the hour you passed away.

When the links of life are broken and our loved one has to part,

It leaves a wound that never heals and ever aching hearts.