Karla Jo Knipper

Des Moines

Karla Jo Knipper, 49, of Des Moines, passed away Saturday, July 20, 2013 from complications after a brave battle with cancer.

Karla was born in Dubuque, IA and grew up on a dairy farm outside Dyersville with her parents, Jerry and Donna; sister, Karen; and brother, Kurt. She attended Iowa State University and graduated in 1987 with a degree in graphic design. After graduating she went to work at Meredith Corporation in Des Moines, IA. While there, she worked in the SIP Department on numerous magazines. She later became the Associate Art Director of the County Home Magazine. After years with the magazine she moved on to Better Homes and Gardens where she was the Deputy Art Director for the food department. She loved her job. Karla was able to travel and meet famous chefs and entertainers for the around the world, but for Karla the best part of her job was the wonderful and loving people she was lucky to work with on a daily basis. Karla loved the beauty in life and loved to travel. She was a great mother, wife and friend.

Karla is survived by her husband, Mitchell McCoy; daughter, Isabella ; two step-daughters, Annemarie and Elizabeth; father, Jerry Knipper of Dyersville; sister, Karen (Curt) Espeland of Kingsport, TN; brother, Kurt (Kathy) Knipper of Dyersville, IA; nephews, Zachary, Bennett, Matthew and Marcus Espeland and Nicholas, Aaron and Lucas Knipper; uncles and aunts, Rev. Dan Knipper, Larry and Katie Knipper, Norma (Knipper) Cassidy, Anna (Knipper) and Bernie Manternach and Betty Lois Koelker and numerous cousins.

Karla was preceded in death by her mother, Donna (Dingbaum) Knipper; paternal grandparents, Andy and Theresa Knipper; maternal grandparents, Albert and Julia Dingbaum; uncles and aunts, Merald and Doris Dingbaum, JoAnn (Dingbaum) and Michael McCauley and Kathleen (Dingbaum) and Robert Mohr, Louis Koelker, John Cassidy and cousin, Peter Knipper.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in West Des Moines with burial at Resthaven Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at McLaren’s Chapel in West Des Moines with a vigil service at 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.