William “Bill” Knop, 77, of Staunton, died on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, at Anderson Hospital in Maryville.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Williamson Funeral Homes in Staunton is assisting the family with arrangements.
Mr. Knop was born on Aug. 4, 1944, in Litchfield, the son of John and Viola (Toeningsmeier) Knop. He married Kay (Bradley) Knop on April 3, 1964, at Zion Lutheran Church in Staunton.
Mr. Knop graduated from Staunton High School with the Class of 1962. After graduation, he went to work at L.E. Sauer Machine Shop in St. Louis, MO, as an operating milling and lathes worker. He also worked at Progressive Groceries (P.G.) Warehouse in Staunton as a bookkeeper, Colonial Baking Co. of Alton for 13 years as a bread truck delivery driver and Owens Illinois/Nekossa Packaging Co. of Mt. Olive for nine years where he held an operators classification on machines. He later worked for National Refractories as a sales representative, then went on to being a self-employed sales rep for Refractories until his retirement in 2017.
Mr Knop worked as a volunteer EMT when Staunton Area Ambulance Service began for three years. He joined the Staunton Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter on June 1, 1966. Mr. Knop was treasurer of SVFD from 1969 to 1972, promoted to captain from 1972 to 1974, and assistant fire chief from 1975 to 1993. He was an active firefighter until 1994. In 1978 a fire district was formed and Mr. Knop was the only fire district president for 43 years, from 1978 to 2021. His dedication to the Staunton Fire Department and his love and respect for his fellow firefighters was one of his biggest achievements.
Mr. Knop loved being at his Mississippi River house in Calhoun County, Hamburg, where he enjoyed fishing, boating and being with his river friends and his family. He enjoyed many years of traveling with his wife after retirement, but their favorite place was Somaphore, S. Australia, with their Aussi family.
Mr. Knop is survived by his wife; son, John (Jane) Knop of Adalaide, S. Australia; five grandchildren, Randy Blair, Sarah (Kami) Knop, Madison and Jordan Knop, and Ashlynn Razmus; and special in his heart, Bristyn and Daisy Razmus; his sister, Caroline “Carrie” Meiers of Las Vegas; brother, Richard Knop of Las Vegas; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Dana (Knop) Blair; a son, Steve Knop; and a nephew.
Memorials are suggested to Zion Lutheran Church of Staunton, the Staunton Fire Department or the Staunton Education Foundation. Condolences may be left online at www.williamsonfh.com.
