Harlan Knoepfel

Harlan Grant Knoepfel, 92, of Grand Island passed away Monday, October 9, 2017, at CHI Health St. Francis.

Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, October 12, 2017, at Peace Lutheran Church in Grand Island with Pastor Mike Reiners officiating. Burial will be at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Funeral procession to be escorted by the Patriot Guard Riders. Military rites will be provided by the United Veterans Honor Guard of Grand Island and United States Army Honors Team of Lincoln. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 Wednesday at Apfel Funeral Home who 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.apfelfuneralhome.com.



Harlan was born December 31, 1924, at Farwell, Nebraska to Chris and Martha (Lemburg) Knoepfel. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He received his education at District 10 at Kelso, Nebraska and attended two years of high school at Nysted.



Harlan farmed with his father until he entered the military service in the United States Army in August 1944. He served in the Signal Corp. at Camp Crowder, Missouri, and was transferred to Infantry at Camp Livingston, Louisiana. Harlan went overseas in March 1945, and was with the 7th Army, 45th Thunderbird Division, 180th Infantry Division Company C 3rd Division. He was wounded in action April 17, 1945, at Nuremberg, Germany, and received the Purple Heart while in the hospital at Nancy, France. He was discharged at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas July 4, 1946. Harlan received the Good Conduct Medal, Sharp Shooter Rifle Medal, European Theater Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Victory Ribbon and Bronze Star. He received his high school diploma in 1999, from the United States Government.



After returning from the service, Harlan worked for Ed Claussen Construction for 7 years before becoming a self-employed building contractor. He retired in 2002, after building over 100 homes in the Grand Island area.



Harlan was united in marriage on August 10, 1947, to Evelyn Tagge at Christ Lutheran Church in Cairo, Nebraska and lived all of their married life in Grand Island. They recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in August, 2017.



Harlan enjoyed many hobbies of woodworking, photography, lapidary, ham radio, music, metal detecting and enjoyed traveling with his wife and family. He dearly loved his wife, family and country. Above all, he loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He never hesitated to share his faith with others, especially in his last weeks in the hospital and Tiffany Square with doctors and nurses.



Harlan was a charter member of Peace Lutheran Church in Grand Island, having served on various boards and committees. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Grand Island Amateur Radio Society.



Survivors include his wife Evelyn; one 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, Minnesota and Ron and Paula Knoepfel of Papillion, Nebraska; 8 grandchildren, Marcus Vonderohe and Jodi (Jeff) Schochenmaier of Grand Island, Michael (Donica) Vonderohe of Clinton, Iowa, Justin (Elisa) Knoepfel of North Mankato, Minnesota, Kyle (Rachel) Knoepfel of St. Charles, Illinois, Leah (Chris) Clark of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Lori (Eric) Field of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, and Kevin (Tammy) Knoepfel of Elkhorn, Nebraska and 20 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are one brother and sister-in-law, Alvernon and Darlene Knoepfel and one sister Angeline Dibbern, all of Grand Island and sister-in-law Arlene Hadenfeldt of Lincoln along with numerous nephews and nieces.



Harlan was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Elvena Campbell and Christina Kruse, and brothers Clarence, John, Arnold and Donald, and granddaughter Valerie Vonderohe.