URBANA:   Earl Rinderknecht, 91 of Urbana died Monday, September 2, 2024, at his home in Urbana.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, September, 7, 2024 at the Phillips Funeral Home Chapel (212 E. 6th Street) in Vinton, with Lorraine Kelty officiating.  Interment with graveside military rites will be in the Urbana Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 PM on Friday at the funeral home.  A memorial fund has been established.

Earl was born November 5, 1932, in Shellsburg to Henry and Darlene (Cue) Rinderknecht.  He graduated from Urbana High School with the class of 1950.  Earl served his Country in the United States Army from 1953 through 1955.

Earl was united in marriage to Esther Knaack on March 15, 1953, at Vinton.  Earl worked for FMC in Cedar Rapids for 20 years and went on to work at the Duane Arnold Energy Center for 10 years following FMC's closing.

Earl and Esther enjoyed dancing on Friday nights at the Senior Center in Independence, and Earl was an avid fisherman.  He was a member of the Urbana American Legion and the Urbana Methodist Church.  One of his greatest pleasures was traveling with Esther to all of the local fields where they knew deer gathered for feeding.  One evening they counted over 435 deer.

He is survived by two daughters, Linda (Mark) Kelty of Urbana and Cindy (Pancho) Lopez of Independence; four grandchildren, Nick (Apple) Kelty of Urbana, Matthew Kelty of Urbana, Max (Korrie) Lopez of Elletsville, IN, Tony (Mykensie) Lopez of Oelwein; 6 great grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Katherine Knaack.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Esther in 2017; an infant daughter, Sherrie Lee; and his sister, Velma Haugerholt.

Condolences may be left at:  www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com