It is with loving hearts and a touch of sadness that we share the passing of Molly Lou Knipp, who left us peacefully on November 7, 2024, at the age of 69. Molly lived with quiet strength, a generous spirit, and an unwavering commitment to her family and faith.
A longtime resident of Archbold, OH, Molly was the heart of her family. She leaves behind her beloved husband, Steve Knipp, with whom she shared over 40 years of laughter and love.
Together, they raised three children: Colt (Jennifer) Knipp of Orange, VT, Lena (Lucas) Yedica of Archbold, OH, and Wade (Whitney) Knipp of Archbold, OH.
Her love and wisdom extended to her six grandchildren: Harper, Clayton, McKenna, Amelia, Violet, and Elsie. To them, she was “Grandma Molly” — a quiet force of nature who could make any day better with a smile, a hug, or a day of swimming.
After spending many years working as a florist, she became the unofficial florist for many of her family’s weddings, creating breathtaking floral arrangements that were as full of love and care as everything else she touched.
Molly was not just the heart of her own family, but also of many children in her community. She opened her home to care for countless children in the area, offering them a safe space to grow, learn, and feel valued, creating a lasting impact on the lives of all those who were lucky enough to experience her warmth and care.
Molly’s creations were legendary. She was an undisputed family pie maker. No holiday gathering was complete without one of her delicious pies, they weren’t just desserts, they were a symbol of her love for the family she cherished.
Molly also had a special touch with quilts and Christmas stockings, creating a unique, hand-stitched masterpiece for each new member of the family.
She was also a woman of adventure, always eager to travel—though, as we all know, sometimes the journey was the destination itself, especially when Molly was in charge of the map!
Along with her love of travel, she passed on her joy of fishing to each of her children. Molly could be found with a fishing pole in her hand in the quiet hours of the morning, though she would tell you herself that she didn’t catch anything.
She is survived by her mother-in-law, Carmen Knipp; sister, Karen (Marlin) Gerig; brothers, Mark (Nancy) Wyse, Keith (Nicole) Wyse, Ned (Sandy) Wyse; sister-in-law, Julie (Gene) Sonnenberg; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Loueen (Rychener) Wyse; father, Russell Wyse; sister, Janelle Wyse; and father-in-law, Ross Knipp.
While Molly’s passing leaves a hole in all our hearts, we know she will be with us every time we slice into a warm pie, wrap ourselves in one of her quilts, or share a laugh remembering the way she handled life with grace, strength, and a twinkle in her eye.
Visitation will be at Grisier Funeral Home in Archbold, OH on November 26th, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A celebration of Molly’s life will be held November 27th, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. at Family Christian Center, 1834 E 2nd St, in Defiance, OH, where we will share stories, laugh, cry, and yes—eat pie in her honor.
The family requests, in honor of Molly’s granddaughter McKenna Knipp, any charitable donations be made to the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation.