Elsie Laura Knospe

Elsie Knospe, age 95, of Menomonie died Wednesday at the Dunn County Health Care Center.  Funeral service will be on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 11 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, Hatchville with Rev. Martin Wegner officiating.  Burial will be in the Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at church on Wednesday prior to the service.

Elsie was born February 2, 1917, the daughter of Fred and Anna (Ninneman) Oebser in Menomonie.  She was baptized and confirmed and a long-time member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Hatchville, Wisconsin.  Elsie attended the Pine Cooley School in the Town of Weston.
On April 28, 1938 Elsie married Otto Knospe in Waukon, Iowa.  At that time they moved to the orchard where they lived until Otto's retirement in 1986.  They moved to Menomonie at that time after living there together for 48 years.
Elsie worked at Connell's Orchard, picking and packing apples.  She also wallpapered.  Elsie planted and cared for beautiful flower beds near the entrance to Connell's Orchard.  She also enjoyed playing cards and most of all spending time with her family.
She was preceded in death by her father Fred who died in 1932; mother Anna who died in 1923; her husband Otto who died in 1997; and her 5 brothers and 4 sisters: Emily (1990); Fred (1980); Mary (1989); Bill (1974); Bertha (2003) Carl (1986); Margaret (2009); Alfred (1989); and Adolph (1962).
She is survived by 2 sons: Gary (Jean) Knospe of Salem, Oregon; Darryl (Chris) Knospe of Menomonie; 5 grandsons: Mike (Linda) Knospe and Mark (Tina) Knospe all of Salem, Oregon; Kent (Lisa) Knospe, Sandy, Oregon; Kevin (Lauri) Knospe and Brian (Tracie) Knospe all of Menomonie; 10 great grandchildren: Nicole (Chad) Kembel of Denver, Colorado; Camille Knospe, Luke Knospe, and Kailey Knospe of Salem, Oregon; Hope (Brody) Porterfield of Prineville, Oregon; and Tyler, Kyle, Klara, Karlen, and Kali Knospe all of Menomonie; sister-in-law Connie Oebser of Menomonie; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral service will be Wednesday, July 25, 2012 at 11 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, Hatchville with Rev. Martin Wegner officiating, and Sharleen Bammert as organist.  Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at church on Wednesday.  Honorary bearers are Kevin Knospe and Kyle Knospe.  Pallbearers are Mike, Kent, Mark, Brian, and Tyler Knospe and Charles Bowell.    Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery, Hatchville, Wisconsin.
Keehr Funeral Home, Spring Valley (www.keehrfuneralhome.com) handled arrangements.