Hilda Gertrude Knoespel

Hilda Gertrude Knoespel, born in Crimmitschau, Germany Saxony on January 8, 1921, died shortly before noon on Thursday, November 30, 2006. She emigrated to Kohler, Wisconsin with her parents Emil and Toni Jacob in 1924. After graduating from Kohler High School as Valedictorian, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, supported by a fellowship from the Kohler Foundation. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the UWM with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics in 1941. After graduation, she taught Home Economics in the Kohler High School and later at Wauwatosa West High School. In 1942, she married Kenneth Steinbach Knoespel, who was completing his M. Div. at Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Together with her husband, she served in churches within the Wisconsin Conference of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the United Methodist Church Brillion-Rantoul 1946-1952; Neenah 1952-1955; Wauwatosa 1955-1971; Whitefish Bay 1971-1976; Platteville 1976-1978; Green Bay 1978-1985 and Sheboygan 1985-1992. She served in many capacities in all her churches, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, running the nursery, most faithful behind the scenes. After celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 1992, she retired with her husband to Greenville, South Carolina, where they were closer to their children. Her husband passed away on December 24, 1999. She is survived by her two children, Kenneth Jacob Knoespel and his wife Amy Arnett Knoespel from Atlanta; Kathryn Ann McLean and her husband Bruce McLean from Greenville; and her grandchildren, Jacob Siegel and his wife Gina Burgess Siegel from Greenville; Elsa Siegel from Greenville, Linnea Knoespel and Martha Knoespel from Atlanta. She is also survived by extended family including Irene Matern; Cliff and Nancy Starr and family; Pat and Dick Rupin and family; Jean Weber and family; and Gini Rudolph. She loved stories and had a profound love of animals. She was a modest woman who served her family, friends and parishioners with loving care. Through her care and devotion, she taught others to share their love and concern. Memorial services will be held at Buncombe Street United Methodist Church in Greenville, on Sunday, December 3 at 1:00 pm with Reverend Grover Putnam officiating. Her cremated remains will be interred in the Kohler Cemetery next to her husband. For their care and support, the family would like to express their deep gratitude to Rolling Green Retirement Community. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Buncombe Street United Methodist Church, 200 Buncombe St., Greenville 29601, or the Greenville Humane Society, 328 Furman Hall Road, Greenville, SC 29609.