JAMES W. KNAPKE, age 70,
Of New Bremen, died on Monday, November 29, 2021 at 6:45 P.M. at the Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County in Troy. He was born on November 24, 1951 in Coldwater, the son of the late Robert L. and Eileen M. (Budde) Knapke. On September 4, 1976 he married Kendra Fark and she survives in New Bremen. Also surviving are his daughter and son in-law Kelly (Karl) Leckrone of Marysville and his precious granddaughters Clara and Ruby. Also left to cherish his memory are his siblings: Don (Shannon) Knapke of Beaver, Oklahoma, Janet (Joe) Bidlack of Celina, Sharon (Gary) Hemmelgarn of St. Henry, John (Janice) Knapke of Union City, Ohio, Sandy (Tony) Rindler of St. Henry, and a number of nieces and nephews.
Jim, better known as “Super” to his friends, was one of those guys who never met a stranger. He was always excited to meet new people, and everyone knew him by his laugh. He was a 1969 graduate of St. Henry High School. He was a member of the Faith Alliance Church in New Bremen, and he also served on the New Bremen Emergency Squad for ten years. He was an adoring fan of New Bremen football and volleyball and he also coached the summer league softball team for several years. He was also a big fan of the OSU Buckeyes, the Browns, and the Cincinnati Reds. He worked as a CNC Machinist at the Midmark Corp. in Versailles for 47 years before his retirement in 2017. After his retirement, he enjoyed getting together with his retired friends from Midmark, and was known to spend lots of time stopping in to talk at the various businesses in the Amsterdam Center in New Bremen. He also loved being a grandpa, and spending time with his two granddaughters, whom he adored. In his spare time, he enjoyed building and flying radio controlled airplanes as a member of the New Bremen R/C Club and he also liked riding his motorcycle, especially in the yearly poker runs that benefited the St. Peter Neurological Center.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, December 3, 2021 at 10:30 A.M. at the Faith Alliance Church in New Bremen with Pastor Trent Fledderjohann officiating. Interment will follow in the German Protestant Cemetery of New Bremen. Friends and family may call on Thursday, December 2, 2021 from 4:00-7:00 PM at the Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen, and again on Friday at the church one hour prior to the services. Memorial contributions in memory of Super can be made to the New Bremen EMS (214 N. Washington Street, New Bremen) or to the Children’s Room at Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County (3230 North County Rd. 25A, Troy, OH 45373). The family is being assisted by the Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen, and online condolences to the family may be left at www.gilberghartwigfh.com.