Elmer D Knoepk

Elmer Dewane Knoepke, age 91, originally from Colfax, Wis., and for the last 2 1/2 years Mount Horeb, Wis, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg. He was born on March 1, 1930, in the township of Otter Creek near Colfax, Wis., the son of Gust and Minnie Knoepke. He married Geraldine Fehr on Jan. 22, 1955, in Bloomer, Wis. Elmer graduated from Colfax High School after missing the graduation ceremony due to a femur fracture from a car accident which left him in traction for 12 weeks. After his recovery and after stints shocking grain & working in a canning factory out west and working on the railroad, he started as an employee at Durand Cooperatives, a farmer-owned co-op in Durand, Wis., at age 19. By age 23, he was the manager at the Beef River Co-op with branches in Strum, Osseo, & Eleva where he quickly converted it from a losing operation to one making money every year. In January 1962, he was enticed back to Durand to be the manager after his former boss and mentor passed away. There, by having the best interests of both the farmers and employees in mind and flexing and innovating to meet the needs of the farmers over changing times, he grew Durand Cooperatives to be the 2nd largest co-op in the state of Wisconsin and the 2nd largest producer for Cenex. After nearly 30 years of managing in Durand, he retired in 1991, to spend more time with family, and his wife Geraldine, in particular, since she had been fighting a slowly advancing breast cancer. They started their retirement with a trip to Alaska where they loved fishing both salmon and halibut. They enjoyed many winters in Apache Junction, Ariz., as well as traveling. After Geraldine's passing in March of 2007, Elmer sold his home in Durand and moved to their tiny cabin on Lake Ojaski in Chetek. He enjoyed his time there, sitting on the porch, fishing, and riding the pontoon. In May 2019, he left his home to divide his time living with his three remaining children, Nancy and Doug, still in the Durand area, and Kris, in Mount Horeb. He spent the majority of his last 2 1/2 years living with his daughter, Kris, and her husband, John Szalkowski, and grandson, Sam, and spent the last year under the care of Agrace HospiceCare. Elmer was a guiding star to many who knew him. We will miss his wisdom and compassion expressed in measured words; the way he favored providing support or redirection over outright advice; and his melding of a disciplined and earnest approach to life with his great sense of humor and ability to have a good time. He told us often how much he loved his work managing the co-op and we saw how he enjoyed his rural life in the Lima township outside of Durand. We benefitted from his prioritization of family and enjoyment of the world, over things. We are thankful for our times hunting, fishing, playing cards, and traveling with him in addition to the times of sitting and having a thoughtful conversation. Elmer loved to read history and other nonfiction or have company watching a WWII movie, a forensic crime show, or the news. We could never get enough of his accordion and piano playing, but since he was self- taught, his playing was more of a private pleasure. Some of us partook of the lutefisk he requested many times over the holidays and almost all loved the lefse. He really enjoyed a beer and a brandy, often with a toast of "Skål!" but we are thankful he was able to indulge in his appreciation of the summer's bounty with a BLT and peach pie in his last days along with a final toast of "Prost!" Elmer is survived by his children, Nancy Jevne (Jeff), Doug Knoepke (Toni) and Kristen Knoepke (John Szalkowski); grandchildren, Amy Eastep (Mike), Becky Felling (Tony), Jeffrey Jevne (Sifia), Greg Knoepke (Kelly), Paul Knoepke (Melanie), Corey Knoepke (Beth), Karissa Sanchez Traun (Sergio), Ben Traun (Sarah Kraemer) and Sam Szalkowski; his great-grandchildren, Cole, Caleb and Emma Eastep, Austin and Ethan Felling, Andrew, Matthew and Grace Jevne, Brandon and Kaylynn Knoepke, Connor and Grant Knoepke, Michael and Max Knoepke, Amalia and Balam Sanchez Traun, and Mila and Emmett Traun; sister-in-law, June Knoepke; brother-in-law, Gust Fehr; sister- in-law, Glenice (Fehr) Kressin; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Geraldine Knoepke, and oldest son, Brett Knoepke; two sisters, Bernice Anderson and Gladys Knoepke; four brothers, Leroy Knoepke, Arnold Knoepke, Kenneth Knoepke and Allan Knoepke; brother-in-law, Lloyd Anderson; three sisters-in-law, Palma (Neuman) Knoepke, Arline (Knutson) Knoepke and Betty (Gunderson) Knoepke; brother-in-law, Gerald Fehr; sister-in-law, Arlene (Fehr) Meredith; nephew, Gordon Anderson; and great-nephew, Todd Holden. Elmer was a charter member of Faith Lutheran Church in Durand and, later, a member of Chetek Lutheran. A memorial service will be held at FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH, 1032 Prissel St., Durand, Wis., on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. A visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. with a service at 11 a.m., followed by lunch. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg, Faith Lutheran Church in Durand, Chetek Lutheran Church, or Durand Area Food Pantry. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com . Gunderson Camacho Mount Horeb Funeral & Cremation Care 500 N. eighth St. (608) 437-5077