Omer Aloysius Knoll, age 90, a very well-known artist, sculptor, teacher, and a friend to many passed away on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at the Redbud Village Care Center in Plainville, Kansas.
He was a former Ellis County resident and lived his later years in Palco, Kansas. He was born October 8, 1934, in Hays, Kansas, and was one of nine children in the family of Adam and Barbara (Sander) Knoll. He married Mary (Desbien) in 1965 at Zurich, Kansas
Omer grew up in Victoria, Kansas and was a 1952 graduate of Victoria High School, and was a veteran of the US Army.
He earned a BS and an MS in Art Education from Fort Hays State University and completed undergraduate studies in architecture at Kansas State University and design, photography and painting classes at the University of Kansas. He started sculpture commissions as a graduate student. From 1965 to 1978, Knoll served as an art instructor teaching drawing, painting, sculpture, pottery, 2D and 3D design, art history, art appreciation, art fundamentals and photography at Iola and Allen County Community College. From 1978 to present he has been a self-employed artist/sculptor, and he had a studio in Hays from 1978 to 1986. In 1986, he moved to Arizona but returned to Kansas in 1994 to live in Palco. He was Fire Chief for the City of Palco for two years.
His vast collection of sculptures includes famous Kansans, including Dr. Michael DeBakey, philanthropist Dane G. Hansen, Senator Robert J. Dole, many of Knoll’s family and friends, as well as a salute to his beloved Volga German heritage, are included in his work. There are also paintings of iconic western Kansas churches and structures.
Omer is survived by his son, Anthony “Tony” Knoll, Phoenix, AZ; his brothers, Lester Knoll, Victoria, KS; Larry Knoll, Denver, CO; his sister, Jane Knoll-Tenney and husband, James, Las Vegas, NV; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Adam and Barbara; his wife, Mary; his brothers, Wayne; Carroll; Devon; Terry and his sister, Iris.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, July 5, 2025 at The Basilica of Saint Fidelis, 900 Cathedral Ave., Victoria, Kansas with Celebrant, Father Curtis Carlson O.F.M. Cap.
The family will receive friends from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Saturday, at the church.
Inurnment will be in Saint Fidelis Cemetery, Victoria, Kansas with military honors by the Victoria V.F.W. Post 1751.
The family suggests memorials made payable to: Saint Fidelis Cemetery in care of Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.
Condolences can be emailed to [email protected] or left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com