Donald Eugene Knepshield, 80, of Gilpin Twp., PA, passed away on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

A son of the late Ralph Leroy Knepshield and Ola Mildred (Beck) Knepshield, he was born September 11, 1937, in Kittanning, PA.

Donald lived in Gilpin Township all his life and was a member of the Forks Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gilpin Twp.  During his high school years and early twenties, he worked for Peck Lessig building homes around the Gilpin Twp. and Leechburg area.  In 1960, he became employed by Wean United Engineering & Foundry in Vandergrift.  Drafted into the U.S. Army, he served from 1962-1964 in Germany at the Berlin Wall as a radar specialist.  Following his military service, Don returned to Wean United Engineering in Vandergrift as a roll grinder and eventually was promoted to inspector.  He remained there until the plant closed.

In 1984, he started working at the Allegheny Ludlum plant in Leechburg as a roll grinder.  He subsequently transferred to the company’s plant in Vandergrift, retiring in 2004.  In his retirement, Don enjoyed restoring and repairing antique tractors and trucks.  His fully restored 1946 Chevy truck was his pride and joy, as well as his collection of eight restored Farmall tractors, some of which were his Dad’s.  He was a master woodworker who regularly enjoyed making gifts for family and friends and his grandchildren’s classmates.  Don took pleasure in gardening and working around the farm.  He was always accompanied by his loyal dog, Bob.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Marilyn Jean (Garing) Knepshield of Gilpin Twp., PA, whom he married on October 8, 1966; his daughters, Beth Ann Talarico (Mark) of Gilpin Twp., PA, and Susan Dawn Vigna (Jerald) of Gibsonia, PA; eight grandchildren, Kristen Vigna, Estrella Talarico, Sarah Vigna, Jon Talarico, Brian Talarico, Emily Talarico, Benjamin Talarico and Madelyn Vigna; a brother, Richard Leroy Knepshield (Joan) of North Waterboro, Maine; and a sister, Linda Dunlevy of Wasilla, Alaska.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant sister, Dorothy Mae Knepshield; a brother-in-law, Larry Dunlevy; and a nephew, Robert Dunlevy.

Friends welcomed by his family on Sunday, December 17, 2017 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at Clawson Funeral & Cremation Center, 170 Main Street, Leechburg (724-842-1051).  Additional visitation will be held from 10-11 AM on Monday, Dec. 18, at Forks Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 253 Forks Church Rd., Gilpin Twp., where funeral ceremonies will begin at 11:00 AM with the Reverend Carl A. Johnson officiating and the Reverend Jocelyn Johnston presiding.  Interment following at Forks Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery, 253 Forks Church Rd., Gilpin Twp., with military honors conducted by the Vandergrift Veterans Honor Guard.

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