William was born January 29, 1926, in State Center, Iowa, the son of William and Lillian Wolff Kniel. He married Patricia A. Boughton on May 28, 1951, in Eagle Grove, Iowa. She passed away March 5, 2016.

A 1943 graduate of Zearing High School, Bill was a World War II veteran having served in the U.S. Navy from 1944-1946. Following his discharge, he obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Drake University. From 1949-57 he taught and coached boys and girls basketball in the Iowa Public Schools System before joining Packaging Corporation of America as a sales representative. In 1961, he was transfered to Quincy and retired from PCA in 1991.

Bill was a member of Vermont Street United Methodist Church, charter member of the PCA Sales Achievement Club and charter member of the Iowa AAU Basketball Hall of Fame. He enjoyed golf, fishing, playing bridge, following the St. Louis Cardinals and the Iowa Hawkeyes, but above all, spending time with family and friends.

Bill is survived by three children; Lisa (John) Spear, of Bonita Springs, FL, Lynn (Michael) Shuba, of Woodbury, MN, and Scott (Beth) Kniel, of Quincy; eight grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, Bill was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, and a son, Bret William Kniel.

Private Inurnment services will be held at Greenmount Cemetery, Quincy, Illinois with full military honors conducted by American Legion Post 37.

Memorials: Quincy Public Schools Foundation (QPSF) Pat & Bill Kniel Family Fund for Music Education, Vermont Street United Methodist Church or Adams County Arc.

Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements. www.hansenspear.com.