Obituary
John Robert Knobloch, age 88, died from complications from dementia on September 10, 2020. He was born to the union of Evelyn and Robert Knobloch on June 19, 1932, in Mankato, Minnesota. He divided his time between Stuart, Florida, and Haugen, Wisconsin, for many years during his retirement. In 2018 he moved to The Villages to be near family for care.
John is survived by his “3 girls” of whom he was so proud; Kim Schwichtenberg (Karl), of St. Paul, MN, Katie Hiland (Bruce- 3 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren) of The Villages, and Christy Knobloch-Grieger (Steve), of Longwood, his special friend, Kathryn Schultz, of Bloomington, MN, and his brother, Robert Knobloch of Benecia, CA. He has 4 grandchildren, Anne (Joel), Jeff, Ada, and Liv, 3 great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his wife of 46 years, Carol Nomeland Knobloch, who passed in January 2001.
John graduated from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, with a B.A. in Social Science. John proudly served in the Army Counter Intelligence Corps where he served as a military intelligence specialist. He worked in various executive positions within the automotive battery business for the majority of his career. Later, he became the V.P. of “PRIDE” (Prison Rehabilitation and Diversified Enterprises). In retirement, John was a member of two Army counterintelligence organizations and was a respected lector at both of his churches in Stuart, Florida, and Haugen, Wisconsin. John traveled during most of his life and in 2016 he went on a cruise to Alaska with his daughter Kim, her husband Karl, and friend Kathryn, fulfilling his dream of visiting all 50 states. In 2017, his daughter Katie accompanied him on an Honor Flight, a highlight of his life.
A service is scheduled on Saturday, October 3, 2020, at 11:00 am at St. Vincent de Paul in the Villages. All are welcome. The link to the live stream of the mass is https://venue.streamspot.com/event/MjMzNjEzNQ== The password is Knobloch2020. There will be a celebration of life at the family cottage on Bear Lake in Wisconsin in the summer of 2021.
We would like to thank all of the staff at HarborChase Wildwood, particularly Zully Oliveras, Director of Memory Care, and the staff at Cornerstone Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that any donations be made to one of the following organizations:
Haugen Area Historical Museum
PO Box 211
Haugen, WI
54841
Or
Southeast Florida Honor Flight
www.honorflightsefl.org
P.O. Box 1503
Stuart, FL 34995
Service
The Villages
I was honored to have met your father at the Louisiana Club Social meetings. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
My sincerest condolences to your loss. There is now doubt what a wonderful man your father was simply because of what a beautiful, thoughtful and caring woman you are. I never was blessed with the honor of meeting him but I am sure he is very proud of you.
My prayers to you and your family,
Bryan Neubauer