County Colleagues Remember Charlene Knispel
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jordan Fouts-
Knispel died Sunday in her home after more than 30 years in township and county government. She was 81.
“Family came first for her, but after that, her next love had to be politics,” said Jean Northenor. “Wherever she served, she served with absolute dedication and grace.”
Northenor’s friendship with Knispel goes back to 1976, when Knispel was deputy township assessor for Turkey Creek Township.
Knispel was later township assessor, Kosciusko County auditor for 18 years, and a county council member. She also was active in the Kosciusko Republican Women’s Club and Indiana Assessor’s Association, serving as president of each at one time.
She was still active in politics even after leaving her second term as a county council member for health reasons, Northenor observed.
“I can’t say she ever actually retired from county politics,” she said. “She might have retired from the day-to-day business, but her mind never did.”
County Treasurer Sue Ann Mitchell remembers Knispel from her own days as an assessor – she was Knispel’s “sidekick” in the assessor’s association.
“She was a wonderful life lesson teacher,” Mitchell said. “She could inspire you to do more than you thought you could, and was always right there singing your praises.”
Mitchell described her as a wonderful friend, who she spoke with on the phone every Sunday night for years.
“It sounds corny, but she was there in sickness and in health,” Mitchell recalled, describing how Knispel visited her in the hospital after knee surgery.
Tom Anglin, county council president, served alongside Knispel in her different capacities over the years and remembers her dedication and competence.
“Any office she held, she did her job completely,” he said. “I respected Charlene very much.”[[In-content Ad]]
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Knispel died Sunday in her home after more than 30 years in township and county government. She was 81.
“Family came first for her, but after that, her next love had to be politics,” said Jean Northenor. “Wherever she served, she served with absolute dedication and grace.”
Northenor’s friendship with Knispel goes back to 1976, when Knispel was deputy township assessor for Turkey Creek Township.
Knispel was later township assessor, Kosciusko County auditor for 18 years, and a county council member. She also was active in the Kosciusko Republican Women’s Club and Indiana Assessor’s Association, serving as president of each at one time.
She was still active in politics even after leaving her second term as a county council member for health reasons, Northenor observed.
“I can’t say she ever actually retired from county politics,” she said. “She might have retired from the day-to-day business, but her mind never did.”
County Treasurer Sue Ann Mitchell remembers Knispel from her own days as an assessor – she was Knispel’s “sidekick” in the assessor’s association.
“She was a wonderful life lesson teacher,” Mitchell said. “She could inspire you to do more than you thought you could, and was always right there singing your praises.”
Mitchell described her as a wonderful friend, who she spoke with on the phone every Sunday night for years.
“It sounds corny, but she was there in sickness and in health,” Mitchell recalled, describing how Knispel visited her in the hospital after knee surgery.
Tom Anglin, county council president, served alongside Knispel in her different capacities over the years and remembers her dedication and competence.
“Any office she held, she did her job completely,” he said. “I respected Charlene very much.”[[In-content Ad]]
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