Lester Emil Knop

Lester Knop, 98, of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, passed away September 19, 2015 in Mt. Juliet. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2015 at the St. John's Lutheran Church northwest of Hastings with Pastor John Rutz, officiating. Burial with military rites will be at the East Liberty Cemetery northwest of Malvern. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25, 2015 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Malvern.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the American Heart Association or the American Lung Association

Lester Emil Knop, one of 13 children of Herman Karl Frederick and Alma Emilie (Leu) Knop, was born on September 21, 1916 at Clear Lake, Iowa. His family moved to a farm near Malvern, Iowa when he was 2 years old. Les attended the Pleasant Valley and Golden Hill country schools as well as the Malvern High School where he completed the 9th grade.

Lester was baptized and confirmed at St John's Lutheran Church in Hastings, Iowa where he was a member for 57 years. He held many church offices and served on the building committee when they remodeled the church. He also started singing in the choir at the age of 15.

In 1939 after the death of his father, Les and his brother Fritz took over the farming and livestock operation. Les was inducted into the United States Army on his brother, Louis Knop's birthday, September 26, 1942. He left the states on his mother's birthday, March 28, 1943 to the South Pacific. He was stationed in the Solomon Islands, Fiji Islands and the Philippine Islands for a total of 39 months. Les was in the 120th Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company which was awarded the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque in the Philippine Islands. He had the opportunity to work on General MacArthur's jeep several times while in the Philippines. Following his honorable discharge from the Army on December 22, 1945, Les returned to the Knop farm to continue farming.

On April 27, 1955, Les married Blanche Evelyn (Updike) Linson at St John's Lutheran Church in Hastings. Their marriage was blessed with a daughter, Karlette Ann. Les was a charter member of the Dutch Gun Club and also a member of the Flying Dutchman. He was a member of the American Legion and the local VFW. Les loved music and played the guitar, banjo and organ. Les played the guitar and banjo in the "Knop Band" with his brothers, Louis, Everett and Fritz. They played at dances throughout the area for many years. Les served as president and other offices of the Mills County Farm Bureau. He traveled to Washington, DC while he was president. He loved to travel, dance, playing his organ, enjoyed gardening, flowers and fishing.

In 1968, Les and Blanche purchased a farm on Highway 34, just a mile from the family farm. Les continued farming with his brother Fritz until his retirement in 1975. The couple enjoyed traveling to Texas and Arizona for the winters. In 1983 they sold a portion of their farm and moved to Lake Placid, Florida where they made their home for 23 years. While living in Lake Placid, Les was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he was an elder and sang in the choir until he was 89 years old. In 2005 Les and Blanche received the Priscilla and Aquila Pioneers in Ministry award. In March 2006 Les and Blanche moved to Mt. Juliet, Tennessee to live near Karlette and her family.

Les passed away at his residence in Mt. Juliet on September 19, 2015 at the age of 98 years, 11 months and 28 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Alma Knop; his beloved wife Blanche Knop in 2009; two infant siblings, Henry Knop and Herman Knop and brothers, Louis Knop and wife Alma, Walter Knop and wives, Helene and Lucille, Everett Knop and wives, Marie and Vivian, Alfred "Fritz" Knop and wife Evelyn; sisters, Della Smardo and husband Fred, Lucille Miller and husbands, John "Dusty" Rhoades, Elam Ord and Lloyd "Puck" Miller, Darlene Walker and husbands, Donald Staerker, Bill Pollack and Floyd Walker, Viola Green and husband Howard, Vanda Christensen and husbands, Joe Dawson, Sr and Jack Christensen, and Lola Jones and husband Orlo.

Les is survived by his daughter Karlette Mayo and husband James; granddaughter Kristy Leu Mayo and friend Calen Morrison; grandson James Cecil Mayo and fiance' Katrina Bald; two great granddaughters, Madyson Grace Mayo and Brylin Annmarie Mayo, all of Mt. Juliet; sisters-in-law, Betty Updike of Fremont, NE and Helen Updike Hohenstein of Craig, NE; many other relatives; and a host of friends.