Services for Theodore Knoll, 98, were Monday, February 5, 2001. at 2 PM at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Deer Park, with Rev. Tim Coppersmith officiating. Organist was Cindy Nelson.
Interment was at Calvary Cemetery, Deer Park, with the Williamson Funeral Home of Amery in charge.
Theodore Ervin Knoll was born on January 25, 1903, on a farm near Deer Park, the youngest of eight children.
He worked on the family farm and, by the age of 12, was working with his uncle doing custom thrashing in the neighborhood.
He bought his own tractor and thrashing machine in 1928 and continued doing custom work for the neighboring farmers, as well as operating his own farm. He operated the thrashing machine until 1962 when it was replaced with a combine.
In 1925 he bought two beehives and it grew into a big business. In 1944 he extracted 19,000 lbs. of honey, selling much of it to Tastee Bread, St. Paul, and to the local community. He and his friend, Johnny Jones, built and operated a popcorn wagon, selling at the outdoor movies in the local communities and later on Saturday nights in Clear Lake when the stores were open.
In 1989 he sold the farm and moved to Amery. He continued gardening, restoring a long worn out garden to become productive once again. He specialized in raising rutabagas.
As his health declined, it became necessary to move to Willow Ridge Nursing Home in Amery where he died on Thursday, February 1, 2001.
His parents, Ferdinand and Maria, and brothers: Carl M., Edward, Henry, Julius and sisters: Elsie Zellmer, Agnes Sabena Fouks and Laura preceded him in death.
