ARLYS M. KNOOP
ARLYS M. KNOOP
Arlys Knoop, 83, of Neillsville, WI, died Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, at the Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield surrounded by her loving family after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
Arlys Mary Knoop was born Jan. 19, 1939, in Augusta, WI, the daughter of Carl and Esther (Marten) Smith. She attended school for six years in Humbird, WI, before moving to Neillsville. She graduated from Neillsville High School in 1957. On Oct. 5, 1957, she was united in marriage to Ervin Knoop at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Neillsville. Arlys worked for 22 years as a secretary at Nelson Industries before retiring in 1998. Later, they sold their fourth-generation homestead farm to their daughter and her husband and moved into Neillsville. Ervin died Oct. 15, 2013.
Arlys was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and their ladies aid, organizing many funeral luncheons over the past several years. She did volunteer work for the Red Cross, Aging Department, Memorial Hospital Gift Shoppe and the Senior Center Wednesday cards. Arlys also worked as a poll worker during the elections for many years.
She enjoyed playing games and cards, especially cribbage with her family and friends. Her favorite hobby was making stamped greeting cards. Arlys and Ervin enjoyed traveling to Alaska and Hawaii, and she was always ready for short travels.
She is survived by six children, Shelby White of Alton, MO, Carol (Mike) Fox of Janesville, Janet (Pete) Schmidt of Neillsville, twins Dawn (Ron) Bohman of Marshfield, David (Peggy) Knoop of Merrill and Judith (Kevin) Zickert of Neillsville who currently live on the Knoop homesteaded farm of four generations. Arlys is also survived by 14 loving grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Kenneth (Marilyn) Smith of Plover, WI, and Gordon (Mary) Smith of Stevens Point, WI, sisters-in-law, Donna Smith of Madison, WI, and Betty Smith of Vesper, WI; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jean and Kenny Goetz of Neillsville, WI, and Gale Minsaas of Casper, WY.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ervin; her parents, Carl and Esther Smith; sister Elaine, twin sister Arlene; brothers Earl, Carl and Marvin; and many brothers and sisters-in-law.
Funeral services for Arlys were held at 11a.m. Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Neillsville. Pastor Timothy Biebert officiated. Music was provided by Judy Trunkel, organist. Interment was in the North Pine Valley Cemetery in Neillsville. Visitation was from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Gesche Funeral Home and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church.
Pallbearers were her grandsons, Jason Garbisch, Elliot Sikora, Derek Sikora, Jacob Fox, Brandon Knoop, Josh Bohman, Eric Bohman and Nathan Schmidt.
Online condolences may be made at www.geschefh.com.
Gesche Funeral Home and Cremation Service assisted Arlys’s family with funeral arrangements.