Obituary of Robert Knoll

Robert U. Knoll, 73, of Wisconsin Rapids, died Sunday, April 7, 2013 at Strawberry Lane Medical and Rehabilitation Center in Wisconsin Rapids. Services will be at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, April 13th at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Wisconsin Rapids. Rev. Kevin Ader will officiate. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services on Saturday at the funeral home. Robert was born October 17, 1939 in Pittsville to John and Rosella (Meitner) Knoll. He married Marilyn Rasmussen on March 3, 2003 in Wisconsin Rapids. Bob worked for many businesses in the Wisconsin Rapids area over the years including Sani Dairy, Hank?s Auto, Pontiac Garage, and Consolidated Papers Inc. He also owned and operated his own business, Bob?s Service. For most of his working career he was an over-the-road truck driver and drove for Schneider, Sparhawk, Roehl, and Ruan. He really enjoyed being a truck driver. While at Roehl, he started their driver training school. Bob loved teaching those classes and remained close friends with many of the students he had over the years. Bob was a great husband and father. He had the gift of gab and easily made friends with others. He was the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back. Bob had a love for old cars and was a founding member of the original Creepers Car Club in Wisconsin Rapids. He also had a love for Harley Davidson Motorcycles and enjoyed riding his Harley, including a few cross-country rides with his sons. Bob enjoyed sight-seeing and stopping at flea markets across the country to shop for unique items and spices to use for cooking. His love of history brought him to visiting many old cemeteries across the country as well. Bob had a love for speed, he was an avid NASCAR fan and collector and enjoyed drag-racing in his younger days. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; four sons: John (Rhonda) Knoll of Wisconsin Rapids, Robert Knoll of Longview, Texas, and Duane Knoll and Donald (Noelella) Knoll both of Wisconsin Rapids; two step-sons: Joel (Tanya) Rasmussen of Pittsville and Cory (Mindy) Rasmussen of Sacramento, California; thirteen grandchildren: Stephen Knoll (fiancé Angela Regalia) of Wisconsin Rapids, Shelby Knoll of Longview, Texas, Karin (Derrick) Brier of Plover, Holly (Tyler) Arendt of Wisconsin Rapids, Elizabeth Knoll (Michael Bolwerk) of Appleton, Dustin Knoll of Arizona, Brandon Luedtke of Wisconsin Rapids, Jessie and Jenna Rasmussen, and Bryce and Logan Foemmel of Pittsville, and Brandon and Conor Rasmussen of Sacramento, California; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one sister, Lavere Zuehlke of Wisconsin Rapids; and one aunt, Christie Steltenpohl of Stevens Point. He was preceded in death by his father, John Knoll, mother, Rosella, step-father, Leo Zacharias, and granddaughter, Shannon Miller. Bob?s family would like to thank the staff of Strawberry Lane Medical and Rehabilitation Center for the excellent care he received while he was a resident there. They would also like to thank Frank Deppe for his many years of devoted friendship.