RICHARD D. KNEPFEL

Richard D. Knepfel, age 71, of 1280 Pine Haven Lane Apt. 204, Prairie Crossing, Sheboygan Falls, formerly of Elkhart Lake, passed away Wednesday morning, Oct. 21, 2009, following an extended illness.

He was born July 2, 1938 in Sheboygan, a son of the late Alves and Elva (Blank) Knepfel. He attended St. John Lutheran School in Plymouth and graduated from Plymouth High School in 1957.

On July 23, 1960, he married Yvonne Henschel. The couple made their home in Elkhart Lake and in retirement moved to Plymouth and have been at Prairie Crossing the past eight months.

Richard had been employed at the Kohler Co. and then worked for Tecumseh Products in New Holstein for 32 years, retiring in 1997.

Richard was an active member of St. Paul’s Christian Church in the town of Russell. He had served on the church council and along with his wife taught Sunday school and was superintendent of the Sunday school for 15 years. Richard was also a featured vocalist in the church as well as the Elkhart Lake area for most of his adult life. He truly loved sharing his wonderful voice in praise of his Lord.

Richard had been a member of the Elkhart Lake Volunteer Fire Department.

Richard enjoyed sports, following community, college, and Pro teams. He also coached Little League Baseball and Junior Football for several years. He found joy in spending time with his family and friends playing cards “to win,” and doing jigsaw puzzles, and also found time for arts and crafts. He will be missed for his loving nature and friendly smile and his positive Christian faith.

Survivors include his wife Yvonne; two sons, Keith (Jodi) Knepfel of Elkhart Lake and Kim (Mary Jane) Knepfel of Oshkosh; two daughters, Kaye (Scott) Holschbach of Oostburg and Kelly Knepfel of Omaha, Neb.; 10 grandchildren: Kristi Vater; Lukas, Corey, Tye, Sydney and Lindsey Knepfel; Elizabeth Holschbach and Lauren, Stephanie and Logan Knepfel; two sisters, Barbara (Harold) Sinner of rural Elkhart Lake and Helen (James) Kuhfuss of Howards Grove, and one brother, Bill Knepfel of Kiel.

He was also preceded in death by four brothers, Allen, David, Kenneth and Ralph, and three sisters, Phyllis Otto, Shirley Fraizier and Ruth Knepfel.

Funeral services were held Friday evening, Oct. 23, at the Wittkopp-Schneider Funeral Home in Plymouth with the Rev. Keith Hunholz, pastor of St. Paul’s Christian Church, officiating. Burial took place in St. Paul’s Cemetery in the town of Russell.

A memorial fund has been established in Richard’s name for St. Paul’s Christian Church. Online condolences may be sent to www.wittkoppschneider.com.

The family wishes to thank the St. Nicholas Dialysis Unit, Dr. Michael Johnson and staff, Monica Demuth, the staff at St. Nicholas Hospital as well as the staff and residents at Prairie Crossing, for all the love and care given to Richard and his family.