Evelyn Wauneta Knoepfel

Evelyn Wauneta Knoepfel, 95, of Grand Island entered into her Savior’s presence Saturday, January 9, 2021 at CHI Heath St. Francis.



Funeral Service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 14 at Peace Lutheran Church in Grand Island, with Pastor Mike Reiners officiating. Burial will follow in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.



Visitation will be from 4 to 7 Wednesday at Peace Lutheran Church in the sanctuary. Apfel Funeral Home is serving the family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to Peace Lutheran Church or Mission Central -Gary Thies. Online condolences may be directed to www.apfelfuenralhome.com



Evelyn was born March 6, 1925 in Cairo to Arthur and Anna (Steinke) Tagge. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. She attended grade school at District 31 & 59 near Cairo and graduated from Cairo High School as valedictorian in 1942.



Evelyn was united in marriage on August 10, 1947 to Harlan Knoepfel at Christ Lutheran Church in Cairo and lived all their married life of 70 years in Grand Island.



Evelyn worked for Dr. Molzahn, a dentist in Wood River, and Holcomb Hatchery until 1950. She then became a fulltime homemaker and raising a family. She also handled the bookkeeping for Harlan who was a building contractor. In the community she volunteered for 9 years registering donors at the Red Cross bloodmobile, and many years helping at the election polls in November and special elections.



She enjoyed sewing, crafts, gardening, baking, camping, and traveling with her husband and family. She dearly loved her husband and family. Above all, she loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.



Evelyn was a charter member of Peace Lutheran Church in Grand Island. She was a past Sunday School teacher, held several offices in Shalom LWML, served on numerous church committees, helped sew banners for church, and made quilts for Lutheran World Relief. The past 9 years she crocheted 128 sleeping mats made from plastic bags. Each mat measures 3’ by 6’ and takes 600 to 700 bags to complete. They were donated to Orphan Grain Train and then shipped to those in need in other countries. “It’s a way I can serve the Lord” she said.



Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Karolyn and Ron Vonderohe of Grand Island; two sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Yvonne Knoepfel of South St. Paul, MN, and Ron and Paula Knoepfel of Papillion; eight grandchildren, Marcus Vonderohe of Hastings, Michael (Donica) Vonderohe of Clinton, IA, Jodi (Jeff) Schochenmaier of Phillips, Justin (Elisa) Knoepfel of North Mankato, MN, Kyle (Rachel) Knoepfel of St. Charles, IL, Leah (Chris) Clark of Fleetwood, NC, Lori (Eric) Field of Plattsmouth, and Kevin (Tammy) Knoepfel of Elkhorn; 22 great-grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter and a great-great grandson to be born in March. Also surviving is a sister-in-law, Darlene Knoepfel of Grand Island.



Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Harlan in 2017; her parents; infant sister and brother, Emily and Alvin, sisters and brothers-in-law, Esther (Arnold) Daubendiek, Viola (Earle) Karle, Ramona (Leroy) Werner, and Arlene (Vernon) Hadenfeldt; and infant granddaughter, Valerie Vonderohe.