Longtime Jasper Worker and Veteran Art Knies Dies at 91

Arthur B. Art Knies, 91, a lifelong presence in the Jasper area, died December 24, 2025 at St. Charles Health Campus. Born July 27, 1934 in Celestine, Knies served in the U.S. Army National Guard and spent the majority of his working life in local industry and retail.

Knies retired after 39 years at Kimball International, a long tenure that reflected the mid century pattern of stable manufacturing employment that helped anchor Dubois County. After retirement he continued to be active in the local economy through part time work at the Ben Franklin store for many years. Those roles gave him decades of ties to co workers, local customers and the broader community networks that support small city life.

Beyond his employment, Knies was involved with the Indiana High School Baseball Hall of Fame, contributing to regional sports traditions that matter to families and youth programs across the county. His engagement with the baseball community connected multiple generations of players and fans, reinforcing local civic life that helps sustain volunteer driven youth activities.

Visitation will be held December 28. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated December 29, 2025. These services provide an opportunity for neighbors and former colleagues to pay respects and for family to receive community support during the holiday period. Memorial contribution options are available and online condolences can be left with the funeral home handling arrangements.

Knies’s passing highlights both the personal and economic transitions taking place in Dubois County. Long tenures at single employers like Kimball International once shaped household incomes and community cohesion. As workers age and retire, local institutions from manufacturers to independent retailers and youth sports groups must navigate changing volunteer pools and workforce needs. For families who knew him through work, church or baseball, Knies’s death is a reminder of the human ties that underpin the county’s social fabric.

He is survived by members of his family. Further details on services and memorials are available through the funeral home and service announcements.