The following story was originally published on DCTC News September 5, 2006
After nearly 30 years, Louise Knippel returned an item of college memorabilia that was supposed to have been turned in when she graduated in 1978. An 86-year-old former student and alumna of Dakota County Area Vocational-Technical Institute (DCAVTI), Louise recently mailed a note to what had evolved into Dakota County Technical College (DCTC). She was sending back her student ID card nearly three decades too late. Student IDs state on the back that the card is college property and not something students should take with them when they leave.
Intrigued by her note, DCTC initiated an exchange of letters, phone calls, and visits to get to know more about Louis Knippel and her DCTC story. Louise grew up near Owatonna, Minnesota, and completed ninth grade at Mantorville High School before accepting her first full-time job at age 16.
Married in 1941 at age 21 and widowed suddenly 16 years later, Louise was left to raise four sons on her own—ages 15, 11, 5, and 14 months. She worked various domestic jobs to provide for her family until her children were grown.
After her youngest son had finished coursework at Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minnesota, Louise at the age of 56 decided it was her turn to complete her education. She remembered enjoying home economic classes in high school and decided to enroll in the new Interior Design program at DCAVTI.
Because enrollment for the course was at capacity, Louise was put on a waiting list—she didn’t wait long, however, because an opening in the program occurred less than a week later.
Louise would graduate with honors in 1978 as part of the institute’s very first Interior Design class. The Interior Design major at DCTC has changed dramatically over the past three decades. The program still has a waiting list for new students—and the wait now is considerably longer than one week. NOTE: This was the case in the fall of 2006; check with Admissions to learn more. The DCTC Interior Design program is affiliated with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA).
Louise went on to work a variety of jobs over the course of her lifetime, some because she had to, some because she wanted to, some that used her technical training, and some that didn’t. She raised four sons and enjoys 12 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She has traveled to Europe, Germany, and Canada.
Louise is retired and spending more time focusing on her new passion—writing. Having written her aunt’s biography, her husband’s biography, and her own autobiography, she has a good start in recording all of the rich and interesting history of her family.
DCTC is happy to have been a part of Louise’s life story along with the stories of other students as they have pursued and continue to pursue their educational and career goals.
We are sad to report that Louise passed away at age 96 in January 2017. You can read her obituary below.
Learn more about attending DCTC by contacting:
Admissions
Dakota County Technical College
admissions@dctc.edu
651-423-8266
Room 2-110
Rosemount Campus
1300 145th Street East
Rosemount, MN 55068
Louise M. Knippel Obituary¹
Louise M. Knippel, 96, of Owatonna, died Sunday, January 22, 2017 at Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna. She was born September 19, 1920 in Claremont, Minnesota the daughter of Albert and Otillia (Krampitz) Krippner. She grew up in Steele and Dodge Counties and attended school in Owatonna.
On April 12, 1941, she married Floyd Knippel in La Crescent, Minnesota. The couple made their home in Dodge Center and had four boys. Floyd died in 1957 and Louise and the boys continued living in Dodge Center until 1962 when they moved to Owatonna. Louise sold Watkins and Shaklee product before going back to school for a degree in interior design. Following her school, she worked in floral design and later in interior design.
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¹ SOURCE: Michaelson Funeral Home
