Thomas “Tom” Henry Knorr,74, of the Town of Auburn went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, June 9, 2018 with his wife and family members by his side. Tom died after a courageous seven-year fight with cancer. Tom was born on July 4, 1943 in Butler, WI.
The son of late Pastor Carl and Mrs. Henrietta (nee Koehler) Knorr. On May 17, 1969 he was united in marriage to Barbara Jean Bartelt at St. Lucas Lutheran Church in Kewaskum. They have lived in the Town of Auburn all their married life.
Tom attended Concordia College High School his freshman year, Milwaukee Lutheran High School for his sophomore and junior year and graduated from Random Lake High School in 1961. Tom was drafted into the U.S. Army in September of 1964 and served until September 1966. After basic training, he was assigned to the Pentagon in Washington D.C. where he served for 9 months.
For the last 13 months of his tour of duty, he was stationed in Ascom, Korea. He attained the rank of Sgt. E-5, and after his return home he served in the active Army Reserves for 2 years and in the inactive Army Reserves for an additional 2 years.
He was employed at the West Bend Company starting in the factory in August 1961. After a few months he started working in the office holding positions as a Timekeeper and in the Production Control Department. He moved into the Sales Department in 1982 and retired in 2008 as Director of National Accounts.
Tom worked for the West Bend Company for a total of 44 years. Tom was a member of St. Lucas Lutheran Church where he served on boards and committees. He was a member of the General Board at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School from 1988 until 2012.
He also served on the Board of Directors and as KMLHS Federation Treasurer from 1988 to 1994. Tom was a founding volunteer at the Kewaskum Community Pantry from its start in December 2009. Tom enjoyed gardening, growing herbs, fishing, and hunting with his family and friends.
He and Barb most enjoyed being with their four children, their spouses and eight precious grandchildren. Those Tom leaves behind to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 49 years, Barbara; four children, a daughter, Kristy (Brian) Pyevich of Wausau, a daughter, Laura (Ronald) Buechler of West Bend, a son, Robert (Karla) of Lake Mills; and a son, Jeremy (Dani) of Kewaskum; eight grandchildren, Lily and Lauren Pyevich, Siera Buechler, Caden, Carter and Camden Knorr, and Sawyer and Natalie Knorr; one sister, Sandy Kelly of Fond du Lac; one brother, John (Sherri) of Random Lake; sisters and brothers-in-law, Joan Knorr of Random Lake, Bud Schneider of Beechwood, and Dick (Janice) Bartelt of Kewaskum. Tom is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws, Robert and Doris Bartelt; brother, Dick Knorr; sister, Mary Schneider; and brother-in-law, Jack Kelly. Funeral service in remembrance of Tom will be held on Saturday, June 16th 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at Myrhum Patten Miller & Kietzer Funeral Home, 215 Forest Ave. , Kewaskum, WI, with Pastor Timothy Henning officiating.
The family will greet relatives and friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to time of service. Private burial will be at his church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, make donations to St. Lucas Lutheran Grade School, Kewaskum, WI or Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School, Jackson, WI.
Tom’s family would like to express their deep appreciation to Dr. C.R. Santhosh-Kumar, nurse Kyleen Flores, Jeff Shea and the entire staff at the Vince Lomardi Cancer Clinic in Sheboygan; Dr. Rajesh M. Trivedi and his staff at Aurora Clinic in West Bend; and Dr. Colin J. Mooney from Froedtert Hospital in West Bend. Thanks to Ivy Manor, in Campbellsport; Heartland and Agnesian Hospice and Aurora at Home staff for his end-of-life care and compassion. The Myrhum Patten Miller & Kietzer Funeral Homes have been entrusted with Tom’s arrangements.
Additional information and guest book may be found at www. myrhum-patten.com.
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