Diane Knipe

Diane Sue Knipe, age 77 of Greenwood, Indiana passed away on Saturday night, June 10, 2023.

Diane was born on August 24, 1945, in Bedford, Indiana, a daughter of her parents: Vance Robbins and Gladys (Ikerd) Robbins. She graduated from Arlington High School 1963, where she was an honors student. She later continued her education, receiving her MBA from IU, where she was a member of Tri-Kappa.

She married her high school sweetheart John Knipe Jr. in July of 1963.  She is survived by her husband of 59 years: John Knipe Jr. of Greenwood, Indiana.

Her first job was working at the soda fountain at Hooks Drugs. When she graduated from high school and began her career, she worked for AFNB (American Fletcher National Bank) on Monument Circle in downtown Indy. After leaving the bank, she began a career as a realtor for F.C. Tucker. The majority of her working years were spent in real estate and property management.

In addition to her full-time work, she also was an adjunct faculty member at IUPUI, teaching business and finance, and a substitute teacher at Center Grove Middle School/High School primarily working with special needs students. After she retired, she began working part-time at a group home for special needs women.

She was a longtime volunteer and board member for the Johnson County Special Olympics, where she received the distinctions 2008 SOJC (Special Olympics Johnson Co) Family of the Year, and 2015 SOIN (Special Olympics Indiana) Family of the Year.

Her mission throughout life was to help those who have difficulty caring for themselves. She was an active volunteer with the Care Center of Indianapolis, helping women in homeless situations find stabilization and support. She opened up her home, inviting in and sharing her great big heart with foster children; with international students while completing their education; and bringing people into her home to care for while they were working to “get back on their feet” in order to live independently.

At New Hope Church she was an active member of the Children’s Ministry team. She was a storyteller and a Vacation Bible School teacher. Many students as they have graduated from high school have shared with Diane that they fondly remember her making the Bible stories come to life.

Her hobbies included Crafting, Quilting, Sewing & Memory Books for her grands & great grands (children, nieces, nephews). She also enjoyed traveling. Some travels were about sorrows, like the passing of her siblings, Ron, Jim, and Linda or the painful loss of her nephew Jo Jo. Other travels were in celebration of weddings, the arrival of new babies, graduations, and Special Olympics sporting events. Friends and family knew that if an event was happening in their lives, Diane (Aunt, Mima) would be there regardless of time, day, or difficulties in getting there.

Some memorable times with her family were: A train trip with several of her grandchildren traveling from Indiana to Washington D.C. and Virginia to visit family. Along the way saw an upside down house and visited the Barbie museum; Annual family trips to Anderson Apple Orchard. Multi-generational outings with Diane’s dad, her brothers and sisters, her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren; Trips to Chicago’s American Girl Doll store with grandchildren and great grandchildren, getting hair and nails done, getting new American Girl Dolls, and picking out clothes for the kids to match with the dolls; Attending the Indy 500 parade in downtown Ind– each year ensuring there were enough tickets for friends and family, taking up multiple rows to accommodate everyone, bringing lots of snacks and drinks, and wearing fun hats; Annual Whitewater canoe trips with friends and family, where it seemed that each year the canoe holding the food or drinks invariably flipped over and lost everyone’s lunch; and trips with her grandchildren, nieces and nephews every summer to Spring Mill Park and to visit family in Bedford, IN.

She is preceded in death by Vance Robbins (father); Gladys Robbins (mother); Ronald Robbins (brother); Jim Robbins (brother); Linda Robbins (sister).

She is also survived by her two children: son John Knipe III (wife: Cindy Knipe) of (Greenwood, IN), daughter: Denise Amato of (Indianapolis, IN), 8 grandchildren: Jeff, Jennifer, Jaclyn, Erica, Cassie, Anthony, Hailey, and Brooke, as well as 5 great grandchildren: Ashlynne, Matthew, Evan, Quentin, and Riley; along with several special foster children.

Memorial Contributions in Dianes Honor may be given to Special Olympics Johnson County.