George Knoke

George Knoke, age 85, of Cresco, formerly of Decorah, IA, died on Friday, August 3, 2007, at his home, from leukemia. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2007, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah, Iowa, with Tyrome Albertson presiding. Burial will be in the Locust Cemetery, Locust, Iowa. Friends may call after 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday at the funeral home. George Henry Knoke was born on October 10, 1921, the son of Clarence and Mildred (Feltis) Knoke on the family farm north of Decorah, Iowa. George attended country school and graduated from Decorah High School in 1940. After high school, he joined the US Army, and served in the Philippines for three years. After the war, he returned to rural Decorah. He married Lila Ehrie on January 14, 1946 in Decorah. Together they farmed north of Decorah for many years, until Lila died in 1997. While farming, George worked part-time as an insurance adjustor for the Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. George married Charlene (Cavanaugh) Haugland on May 24, 1998, and retired and moved to Cresco until his death. George enjoyed camping, refinishing furniture and caning chairs, fishing, playing pinochle, and going to Army reunions. He was a life-long member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Locust and was very active in the church, serving as a Sunday school teacher and church council member for many years. George also volunteered for Hospice for many years and received the Governor’s Volunteer of the Year Award. George’s survivors include his wife, Charlene Knoke, Cresco, IA. One daughter: Janice (Marvin “Butch”) Bergmann, Bluffton, IA. Two sons: Ron Knoke, Burlington, IA and Terry (Kristine) Knoke, Nauvoo, IL. One step-daughter: Linda (Richard) Schorr, Cresco, IA. Two step-sons: Loren (Shirley) Haugland, New Hampton, IA and LeRoy Haugland. Twelve grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren. One sister: Mae (Wallace) Christopherson, Jesup, IA. George was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Lila on February 17, 1997; and one infant brother: Victor Clarence Knoke.