Nellie Louise Knupp

Nellie Wilkins Knupp, 96, died at 3:45 p.m., Monday, November 7, 2011, in the Union County Nursing Home in Anna.Nellie was born on her family's farm located east of Anna on February 20, 1915, as the youngest of nine children born to Benjamin Franklin Wilkins and Nellie Marie Hileman Wilkins.She was united in marriage to Gilbert H. Knupp in Cobden on August 26, 1948. He preceded her in death on February 3, 2008.Nellie graduated from Anna-Jonesboro Community High School in 1933 and worked as a secretary/tax collector at the Union County Sheriff's office when her brothers, first Harley and then Roy, served as Union County Sheriff. Known as a meticulous bookkeeper, she later worked for many years as an office administrator/secretary for the Illinois Department of Agriculture at the Fruit Inspection Division office in Anna, from which she retired.At the time of her death, Nellie was the oldest living member of the First Baptist Church of Cobden, having joined the church in February 1930. She was also a longtime member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Carroll P. Foster VFW Post 3455 in Anna.Survivors include nephews John Harley Wilkins of Muncie, Indiana; Harold Franklin Wilkins of Baldwin, Wisconsin; Charles Joseph Wilkins of Pleasant Plains, Illinois; and Homer Wesley Wilkins of Cobden, Illinois, as well as nieces Sue Wilkins of Anna, Illinois, and Sandra Bullock of Baker, Louisiana; her great nephew, Scott Wilkins of Anna, and several other great-nephews and nieces.She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, an infant sister, Ethel Mae Wilkins, and her brothers Harley Wilkins, Charles Wilkins, Roy Wilkins, Dr. George T. Wilkins, Sr., Frank Wilkins, Carl Wilkins, Lawrence "Barney" Wilkins, and Homer W. Wilkins.Services will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 11, 2011, at the Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna, with the Rev. Clifford Heil officiating. Burial will be in the Anna Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.Memorials will be accepted at the funeral home and may be made to the Union County Nursing Home (Long-Term Care Unit) and TIP Hospice, whose outstanding care and service to our Aunt Nellie during her final days will forever be most appreciated by the family