KNAFELC: Joseph Leopold
March 20, 1914 - April 30, 2014
The death of Mr. Joseph Leopold Knafelc of Watson, SK, occurred at Quill Plains Centennial Lodge, Watson, on Wednesday, April 30, 2014. He was 100 years of age. Joseph Leopold was born to Leopold and Josephine Knafelc on March 20, 1914 at home. He received his education at Iron Spring and Rose Bush country schools. He quit in 1928 to help full-time on the farm. In the fall he worked on threshing outfits and spent the winter cutting wood and hauling grain and hay to Watson. In 1940 he got his first Model M International rubber-tired tractor and, in 1941 his own threshing outfit. In 1945, he started a new life for himself when he took over the farm and, on November 12, he married Anna Maria Meschishnick of St. Gregor, SK. Together Joe and Anne built a life for themselves and their family on the farm. Along with the grain, they also raised cattle, pigs, and chickens with some of the cream and eggs being sold. Joe also did threshing for neighbours within the district. Both being community minded people, they were involved with various committees and groups. Joe served as a councillor for the RM of Spalding for six years and spent eight years on the Rose Bush School Board. Both were involved with Meals on Wheels and were members of the Watson New Horizons. Their marriage was blessed with eight children, three boys and five girls, who kept them busy. Life on the farm was not all work, and often get-togethers with other families for sleigh rides and fun ended with heading into town for something to eat. Keeping busy was never a problem for Joe and Anne. Once they quit farming full time, Joe went to work for his nephews at Schmid Industries for seven years. Even after retiring, Joe kept busy with woodworking and sharpening saws. In 2009, Joe moved into St. Mary's Villa, then to Caleb Village for a period of time before moving to Quill Plains Centennial Lodge in February of 2013. Joe will be lovingly remembered by his eight children, 21 grandchildren, and 32 great-grandchildren: Keith Knafelc of Blue Ridge, AB, and family, Wyatt(Heather) Knafelc, Aaron Knafelc, Nancy(Mikeal) Pavloff and their children Erik, Jack and Sarah; Elaine(Robert) Tremblay of Melfort, SK, and family, Melissa(Jason) White and their children Orren and Erika, Ryan(Amy) Tremblay and their children Emma, Sophie and Alex; Janet(Barry) Wilson of Spalding, SK, and family, Derrick(Cheryl Starks) Wilson and their children Trey Clark-Wilson, Keanna Clark-Wilson and Asia Starks, Kimberley Wilson and her children Kohl and Kaytlynn, Amber(Wade) Thompson and their daughter Amelia; Doreen(Ron) Reinhart of Humboldt, SK, and family, Janel(Jason) Gutka and their son Ronan, Cara(Chad) Cuch and their children Joni and Tori, Shawn Reinhart; Yvonne(Hal) Molle of Fernie, BC, and family, Tanya(Jody Murdoch) Molle and their children Olivia, Emily, Liam, Ava, Caden, Violet, Jacob, Layla and Ben, Lisa(Brad) Napier; Brenda(Barry) Eggerman of Humboldt, SK, and family, Dean Eggerman and daughter Breann, Scott(Shirley) Eggerman and their children Maysun and Harper, Todd Eggerman; Lloyd(Patsy) Knafelc of Englefeld, SK, and family, Stacey(Jon Dies) Knafelc, Julie(Geoffrey) Lucas and their children Gabriella, William and Henry, Freya Knafelc; Harvey(Donna) Knafelc of Ponoka, AB, and family, Brandon(Deven Carr) Knafelc and Devin Knafelc; two sisters, Agnes Gerspacher and Dorothy Doepker; one sister-in-law, Louise Knafelc; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Anne(nee Meschishnick) Knafelc (Aug. 28, 2011); parents, Leopold Knafelc (1957) and Josephine(nee Zupancic) Knafelc (1966); grandson, Blayne Wilson (Dec. 28, 2008); great-granddaughter, Dayna Tremblay (Feb. 24, 2005); brother, Stanley; sisters, Mary(Ben) Wurm, Molly(Frank) Schmid, Gertie(John) Plemel and Lostie(Andrew) Plemel; brother-in-laws, Ted Gerspacher and Ed Doepker; and parents-in-law, Herman and Rosa (nee Hueser) Meschishnick. The Prayer Service for Joseph was held at Sacred Heart R.C. Church, Watson, on Friday, May 2, 2014, at 7:30 p.m., presided by Marie VenderBuhs and Patsy Knafelc. Scripture readers were Julie Lucas and Erika White, and the eulogy was delivered by Derrick Wilson. The Funeral Mass was offered at Sacred Heart R.C. Church, Watson, on Saturday, May 3, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. celebrated by Fr. Darryl Millette. Others taking part were: Scott Eggerman, crossbearer; Nancy Knafelc, intentions; Stacey Knafelc and Melissa White, scripture readers; Patsy Knafelc, Eucharistic minister; Janel Gutka, Cara Cuch, Joni and Tori Cuch, Amy Tremblay, Emma, Sophie and Alex Tremblay, giftbearers; Freya Knafelc, soloist; Laurie Sproule, organist; Sacred Heart Parish Choir, music ministry; and Marianne Schmid and Kim Gerspacher, memorial table attendants. Honorary pallbearers were "all those who shared in Joe's life". Active pallbearers were Ryan Tremblay, Derrick Wilson, Shawn Reinhart, Jason White, Orren White and Dean Eggerman. Interment followed at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Cemetery, Watson. Memorial donations may be directed to Quill Plains Centennial Lodge Heritage Garden Fund, Watson. Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel, Humboldt, SK.
