from the USTA Communications Department
Columbus, OH — William Leonard (Billy) Knipper, 57, died Jan. 12, 2018, at Select Specialty Hospital in Akron, Ohio, after a lengthy hospital stay and diabetes complications.
He was born Nov. 22, 1960, in Detroit, Mich., to William F. Knipper and Shirleyann (Feher) Giesy.
Mr. Knipper was a 1979 graduate of Jefferson High School. During his high school years he developed a love of horses and harness racing while working as a groom at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds. He was a talented carpenter but his beloved horses called him back to fulfill his lifetime career as a trainer. He traveled the harness racing circuit but made his home at Northfield Park as trainer/owner of Billy Knipper Stables.
He was preceded in death by his father, William; maternal grandparents, William and Irene Feher; and his paternal grandparents, Cyril and Frances. He is survived by his mother, Shirley (Donald) Giesy; brother, Brian (Sandy); sister, Margie (Jeff) Tokarsky; and aunts, uncles, nephews, great-nephew, cousins and step-siblings.
A memorial service officiated by Rev. Carl Kish will be held at the Paine Funeral Home, Inc., 140 E. Main St., Orwell, OH 44076 on Friday (Jan. 26) at 12 p.m. Visitation will take place prior to the service at the funeral home from 11-11:45 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Northeast Ohio or the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.