Terry Earl Knope Sr., 71, of Shawano, passed away peacefully, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at an Appleton hospital, from complications of blastomycosis, with his son holding his hand. He was born Oct. 8, 1947, in Green Bay, son of the late James and Marge (Parker) Knope and was a graduate of Shawano High School, Class of 1965.
After graduation, Terry enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served two tours of duty in Vietnam aboard the USS Taluga. In September 2018, he was able to attend a reunion in Missouri with others who served aboard the Taluga. He was a member of the Shawano DAV. For many years, Terry worked at Baker’s Super Value in Shawano. He also worked at Kroger’s in Appleton and later as a sales rep for World’s Finest Chocolates and Mitchell Repair Manuals and Computer Systems.
Terry and Sally Kersten were married at the First Congregational Church in Appleton, May 16, 1970. They shared 48 loving years of marriage and were blessed with three children.
Terry was a member of The Church on the Hill, Shawano. When the breakfast club was held at the church for children before school, Terry cooked many special things for the children’s breakfast. He was passionate about gold prospecting and metal detecting and was a lifetime member of the GPAA (Gold Prospectors Association of America), The LDMA (Lost Dutchman’s Mining Association) and the Wausau Prospectors.
Terry regularly visited ThedaCare Medical Center in Shawano to exercise and was a volunteer, helping patients to get around the hospital and clinic on Friday mornings. Terry was an avid outdoorsman and loved to fish and pan for gold. He spent his summers camping in Pentoga County Park in Michigan, which was his second home. His greatest joy was spending time with his family, especially his grandkids. He could often be found attending their sporting events.
Terry is survived by his wife, Sally; his two sons, Terry Knope Jr. and Aaron (Kim) Knope; a daughter, Katrina (Shawn Thorne) Knope-Schroeder; four grandchildren, Kalleigh and Karter Schroeder and Summit and Aurora Knope; a brother, Kim (Theresa) Knope; three sisters, Patricia Knope Jacobs, Dawn Knope Pantoja and Debbie Knope Young; and brother-in-law, Steve (Doris) Kersten. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other family and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Jim Knope; his in-laws, Eddie and Joyce Kersten; his grandparents and aunts and uncles.
Visitation will be held at The Church on the Hill (1000 Engel Drive, Shawano) Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, from 9-11 a.m. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. with full military honors. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.NewcomerGreenBay.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials directed to the family in Terry’s name will be donated to charities that were close to his heart.
Terry’s family would like to thank the ER staff at ThedaCare in Shawano and the staff in the ICU at ThedaCare Appleton for their excellent care and support. Thank you as well to the many family and friends that have offered their prayers and support at this time.