Celeste Fay Culver

Celeste Fay Culver, 98, of Higginsville, Mo., went to be with her Lord and Savior August 11, 2025, at Meyer Care Center. 

Celeste Fay Knipmeyer was born August 20, 1926, near Corder, Mo., to Milton and Lulu (Thee) Knipmeyer. 

Celeste earned her diploma in nursing at Research Hospital in KC in 1948 and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Nursing from the University of Minnesota in 1953. She served as a Public Health nursing consultant for 22 years at the University of Nebraska’s Student Health Center in Lincoln. She was active in the Nebraska Nurses’ Association, Nebraska Public Health Association, Christian Business and Professional Women’s Council, and her church.

On November 22, 1975, she married Robert Duncan Culver, pastor of First Evangelical Free Church in Lincoln, Nebr. In doing so, she became stepmother of three: Keith Culver (Sharon), Lorraine Culver, Douglas Culver (Lyrle), and grandmother and great-grandmother. In 1977, Celeste and Bob moved to rural Houston, Minn., where they spent 38 years together, gardening, entertaining, and volunteering at their church. Celeste enjoyed several trips to the Holy Land and her time supporting her husband’s writing. 

After the death of Robert in 2015, Celeste and her twin sister Celia Knipmeyer lived together, lastly at Meyer Care Center in Higginsville, Mo. As their health failed the past few years, their constant prayer was, they would pass together. That prayer was answered as the sisters died within 24 minutes of each other.

Celeste was preceded in death by her parents, husband, step-son Douglas Culver, two grandsons, sister Inez Hilgedick, two brothers, Randall and James Knipmeyer; brother-in-law Roy Hilgedick, and two sisters-in-law, Marie Knipmeyer and Ozelle Knipmeyer.

She is survived and loved by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at Grace United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. in Higginsville, Mo.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

Burial will follow at the Calvary Cemetery, Corder, Mo.

Memorials are suggested to Grace United Methodist Church or family’s choice. 

The service will be live-streamed at youtube.com/@gracechurch64037 – Click LIVE once connected.