Brian Eugene Knodle, 53, of Fillmore, died on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis surrounded by his family after being overcome by cancer.
Visitations will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 26, from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Wednesday, Nov. 27, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Nokomis. The rosary will be read at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27, with funeral immediately following the visitation. Burial will be at Bost Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Knodle was born to be a farmer on June 18, 1971. He attended St. Louis Catholic School and Nokomis High School. He graduated with dual majors in agriculture business and production and minors in plant and soil science and agribusiness economics from SIU-Carbondale in 1993, as he began his own farming enterprise and assisted his father with E. Knodle Farms.
Mr. Knodle married his wife Heather Hampton of Windsor in 1996. Their four children, Kendall, Alden, Bond and Fallon manage and work on their family farm, Knodle, Ltd. He enjoyed commodity marketing, researching, applying technologies and management changes and spending time with his children.
Mr. Knodle was known for his integrity, being observant and perceptive with an innate sense of the right thing to do. Those who knew him well enjoyed his sense of humor. His faith in God was unwavering and his commitment to getting a job done was tireless - willing to complete any task from frying fish with Knights of Columbus to cleaning out grain bins alongside his farm team members.
Mr. Knodle’s life was one of work and service that included the Illinois Young Leader Committee, Montgomery County Farm Bureau Board, Ag Literacy Advisory Committee and Extension Council, St. Louis Catholic Church Capital Campaign Committee and Catholic School Board, Starr Shooters 4-H club leader, Hillsboro Health Systems where he served as hospital board president and M&M Service Company Board.
Mr. Knodle is survived by his wife Heather Hampton+Knodle; children Kendall, Alden, Bond and Fallon Knodle; mother Joyce Knodle; brothers Jeff (wife Tammy), Kent (wife Nikki) and Steve (wife Erin) and 13 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Eugene Knodle.
Memorials may be sent to St. Louis Catholic School or Church of Nokomis, or Five Loaves NFP food pantry in Fillmore. Condolences may be left online at www.stiehldawsonfh.com
