Kenneth J. Knipschield

Kenneth “Kenny” Knipschield, 84. formerly of Galena, IL went to meet his Lord on Monday, Mar. 9, at Bell Tower Retirement Center in E. Dubuque, Il. Funeral service will be 11 AM, Friday, March 13, 2020, at St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Galena where friends may call after 10 AM at church until the time of service. Cremation rites will be accorded following the service. Burial of the cremated remains will be in St. Aloysius Cemetery, Sauk City, WI at a later date.  Born on Sep. 29, 1935, in Prairie Du Sac, Wi., Kenny was the son of Cyril and Gertrude Knipschield. He grew up in Cross Plains and Middleton, Wi., but 10 of his formative years were spent at St. Colleta’s School for “underprivileged” children in Jefferson, Wi. He may have been underprivileged, but upon finally returning home to Middleton at age 17, that didn’t prevent him from leading a full and productive life. Kenny worked at various jobs, the longest being with Decar Co. in Middleton, where he was a reliable and much-liked employee. Ken retired at age 65, finally having the full-time opportunity to do the things he loved. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, bicycling, and snowmobiling and basically, any outdoor activities. He also loved people, pets, baseball, country music and traveling. He traveled with his parents and siblings and visited roughly 30 – 35 states, including Alaska and Hawaii. He visited Yellowstone Nat’l park three times, riding a rubber raft down the Snake River on his first visit! At age 70, with his brother Dale, on the Hawaiian Island of Maui, Ken rode a bike from the 10,000’ peak of Mt. Haleakala, traveling 41 miles down a narrow, dangerous road with endless curves and winding switchbacks to reach the Pacific Ocean below! A lifetime of riding bicycles made this a “no sweat” trip for him…what a guy! A great friend…a wonderful brother. We’ll all miss Ken, but we’ll all remember him for his quiet, yet adventurous ways….his willingness and ability to overcome many of life’s hurdles….many more than most of us will ever have…and we’ll remember him for the sincere love and respect that he gave to his family and friends. Kenny is survived by a sister, Marcia Clifton, of Evansville, Wi., a brother Dale (Maureen) Knipschield of Galena, and a brother-in-law, “Bud” Zander of Waunakee, Wi. and a number of cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Geraldine “Jeri” Zander and a brother-in-law, Clifford Clifton. Kenny, we love you……….we suspect that God holds you in high esteem also…..