Phillip J. Kneen

Phillip J. “Phil” Kneen, age 94, of Washington, died Friday, August 7, 2015 at the Halcyon House in Washington, Iowa. Celebration of life services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 22, 2015, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home with Rev. Kitch Shatzer officiating. Calling hours will begin noon Friday, August 21, 2015, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for: Washington City Centennial Fountain in Central Park, Hospice of Washington County and Halcyon House Good Samaritan Fund. Online condolences may be sent for Phil’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com. Phillip J. Kneen was born July 5, 1921, in Winfield, Iowa, to Karl and Izle (Heater) Kneen on a farm south of Winfield, Iowa. He graduated from Winfield High School in 1939. Phil served in World War II in the US Naval Service from 1942 – 1945 as Electricians Mate First Class. He was stationed on an island north of New Guinea. He and his daughters took part in the 2012 Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. He married Marjorie Faulkner on June 21, 1947, in Washington. She passed away December 21, 2000. After World War II, he graduated from the School of Engineering in Birmingham, Alabama, and worked for Iowa Southern Utilities for a year before buying a refrigeration business for $500. That was the beginning of Kneen Refrigeration and Appliance which he and Marge operated for over 29 years before retiring in 1976. The store was located off the northwest corner of the downtown square. Phil cared deeply for the Washington Community. When he saw something that needed to be done, he very often stepped up and got it done. His enthusiasm was contagious. He loved to promote Washington when visiting other communities. Phil was very involved in various aspects of the City of Washington, including the United Methodist Church, Washington City Council, Planning and Zoning, Chamber of Commerce, and the Hawkeye Bank Board of Directors. For years he organized the Ridiculous Day Parade. He was there to help when the Centennial Fountain needed repair and assisted with fundraising and rebuilding of the fountain and the addition of the Christmas lights. Phil was a Charter Member of the Washington Jaycees and instrumental in forming this group. He belonged to the Noon Kiwanis and then joined the A.M.ers when it was organized, making him a Charter Member of this group also, helping with its organization and many of their projects. For many years he planted, harvested and sold pumpkins for the club. He implemented a project painting house numbers on the curbs of the streets in Washington so that it would make it easier for emergency vehicles to find peoples’ homes. Phil was actively involved advocating the necessity for building the new Washington Junior High in 1962. He was an instrumental force in promoting the need for a municipal swimming pool for Washington over 50 years ago and then was a part of acquiring another new pool in 2000 when the old one wore out. Phil was an active member of the Isaac Walton League, helping clean up ditches to keep the countryside clean. For years he was a large part in organizing “Fish Day” at Marr Park for handicapped Washington County residents. He was member of Y’s Men and was known as the “Prop Guy” behind the scenes of their stage productions. He also was a part of the group that raised the money and made plans to build the Washington Community Theater in 1976. In 1977 during the Farm Progress Show in Washington County, Phil and his wife Marge were in charge of all the food distribution to the various vendors during the show. After retirement, Phil served as volunteer manager of the Washington Chamber of Commerce for four years. He also stepped back into that role in the interim between Chamber directors. Among other things while manager, he implemented a project where Chamber members visited various farmers out in their fields, serving them coffee and doughnuts in an effort to show them that their business is appreciated. In 1991, he helped make the large stone “Washington” sign on the outskirts of town a reality. During the late 1990’s, he wanted to spruce up the downtown area, so he worked to have concrete planters for the businesses made and coordinated businesses to care for flowers and Christmas trees that filled them. During that time, he also headed up and was one of the volunteers working on the renovations to the main park pavilion in Sunset Park. While a member of the Washington County Country Club, he constructed the fountains in front of the number 2 green and behind the tee of Hole 5, in addition to the flag pole and wooden entrance sign. In 2001 he was honored as a Nine Who Cares Volunteer from Cedar Rapids Channel 9. Phil and Marge moved to Halcyon House in 1996 where he was active in many things there, from starting an aerobics class, conducting “Who’s Your Neighbor” class, making sure all the windows had working electric Christmas candle lights in them, to organizing the Halcyon shower campaign for 200 RAGBRAI riders. His hobbies included fishing, golfing, string art, painting, playing cards and enjoying his family and friends. He enjoyed uncountable numbers of practical jokes, being the receiver of many and probably the giver of even more. Surviving are his three daughters Mollie Forsch of Chesterfield, Missouri, Karla Lance (John) of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and Mary Ann Knupp (Marc) of Washington; his very special friend Barb Steele of Washington; seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; one sister Letitia Cory (Lauren) of New London, Iowa; one brother Jon Kneen (Nita) of Ottumwa, Iowa; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one son, Phillip Jr., in 1961, and brother Kendall Kneen.

Phillip J. Kneen

July 5, 1921 - August 7, 2015