John Knopp

John R. Knopp, 79, of Watertown, passed away on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 after a long struggle with pancreatic cancer. John was born on December 28, 1941 in Sheboygan. He and his wife Cheryl recently celebrated 50 years of marriage this past December. He is survived by his wife Cheryl and 3 children, Michael Knopp of Green Bay, Jennifer Hupke of Waukesha and Melanie Gamez (Junior) of Waukesha; 3 grandchildren, Lauren, Aidyn, and Nakai; his sister Mary Jo Zeznanski (Bruce) of Milwaukee and brother Allen Knopp of Watertown.

John loved adventure and travel. Europe was his favorite destination. He was a foodie and enjoyed discovering new restaurants and recipes with Cheryl. He was a craftsman and welcomed the challenge of a new project. John was a dedicated advocate of the Conservative Party and a frequent contributor to editorials. His final life goals were to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary and see the election through.

John was the loving patriarch of the family. He was strong willed and stern, some might say he was a stubborn son-of-a-bitch, but he always led with a soft genuine heart who secretly loved poetry and sharing his wisdom. He had a dry sense of humor and quick wit that many people enjoyed. John was an inspiration to his daughters, their favorite quote is “He was neither an anchor to hold me down, nor a sail to take me to my destination; rather he was the guiding light to lead the way.”

Thank you God for keeping him with us so long.

A private memorial service will be held in the near future per John’s request.