Kniess

Charles W. Kniess, 71, of Zelienople died Wednesday at UPMC Passavant Cranberry Hospital.

Born March 27, 1937, in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late Wilbert and Alma (Haigh) Kniess.

Mr. Kniess retired in 1999 from Conrail, where he had been a conductor. He also was a gun dealer and locksmith by trade.

His hobbies included hunting, fishing, boating, traveling and camping.

Mr. Kniess enjoyed his family, friends and spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was a member of the Freedom Eagles and the Ellwood Saxon Club and was active in the Unionville American Legion, the Zelienople Hungarian Club, the Harmony Moose, the Conway Sportsman's Club and the Evans City VFW. He was a member and the director for the Federation of Clubs.

He is survived by his wife, Marie (Curry) Kniess, whom he married Sept. 19, 1996; two sons, Charles Kniess of Cranberry Township and Kenneth Kniess and his wife, Maureen, of Fombell; two daughters, Robin Davey and her husband, Bob, of Fairfax Station, Va., and Karen Kwiatek and her husband, John, of Zelienople; two stepsons, William and Erik Phillips, both of Zelienople; a brother, Robert Kniess of Harmony; three sisters, Carol Saylor of California, Norma Mitchell and her husband, Chuck, of Portersville and Ruth McCandless and her husband, Butch, of Harmony; six grandchildren, Alyssa Tedesco and her husband Jay, Justin Davey, Mathew McConahy, Lucas McConahy, Abbey Kniess and Katie Kniess; and three great-grandchildren, Dylan McConahy, Toby Chiefo and Noah Matthews.

<B>KNIESS</B> — Friends of Charles W. Kniess, who died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at <B>Boylan Funeral Home</B>, 324 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople. Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 320 Bilmar Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15205.Online condolences and directions are available at www.boylanfuneralhome.com.