William (“Bill”) H. Knaust

William (“Bill”) H. Knaust, 88, of Joplin, passed away April 4, 2019, in Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Okla. He was born July 23, 1930, in Hoberg, to the late Herman and Erna (Pietsch) Knaust. He was the youngest of six children.
In 1955, he married the love of his life, Alma “Ruth” Backs of Lockwood and together they enjoyed over 62 years. They renewed their wedding vows on their 50th anniversary and celebrated their 60th anniversary at their church with family and friends. His wife preceded him in death in 2018.
Knaust has been a longtime resident of Joplin, where he has made his home since 1955. He graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1949. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and was the last of the original charter members of the American Legion Hubert H. Kleiboeker Post No. 419 in Freistatt. He worked as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 25 years and retired in 1990. He was honored in 2018, for his 50 year membership in the National Association of Letter Carriers (“NALC”). He was a member of the Southwest Missouri Nut Growers Association.
He always enjoyed playing pinochle. He loved sports and even coached some of his son’s baseball teams. Growing up in a farming family and being an FFA member, he has always enjoyed spending time in the outdoors, particularly caring for the cattle on his farm, gardening, caring for his walnut grove and quail hunting. Knaust and his wife shared their love for God in a trucking ministry by their church and participated in Evangelism Explosion.
Survivors include: daughters, Marsha Knaust of Tulsa, Okla. And Marilyn (Frank) Rooks of Jasper; son, Marion (Marian) Knaust of Springdale, Ark.; and three grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Knaust was preceded in death by: sisters, Flora Spree and Rose Marie Knaust; and brothers, Raymond, Elfred and Edward.
Funeral services were held April 8, 2019, at Fellowship Baptist Church in Joplin. Burial followed in Stone Cemetery in Diamond. Memorials may be made to Mt. Vernon FFA Booster Club in care of Parker Mortuary.