Lincoln County Obituary
Prague Cemetery

© Havenbrook Funeral Home
Date unknown
Reprinted with permission
Submitted by: Janet Flickinger

WALTER HUGO KNOEPFLI

17 Jul 1925 - 24 Nov 2011

A man of service – to his country, community, profession and family. Walt was a proud American, father and grandfather. He was born to Anna Unterkircher-Knoepfli and Gottfried Knoepfli in Prague Oklahoma on June 17, 1925 and was the youngest of five siblings. He joined the Army Air Corp in 1944 and was stationed on Okinawa during WWII.

Upon returning home he completed a bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Oklahoma. During the Korean Conflict he was recalled to active duty in the Air Force and stationed at Sampson Air Force Base. There he was introduced to First Lieutenant Isobel Logan of PA. Fifty-eight years later, they have resided in Norman since 1955.

Upon completing a master’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation at the University of Oklahoma he worked at Griffin Memorial Hospital for over 35 years, where he retired as director of the Recreational Therapy program. When asked what he did as a living he enjoyed telling people he was a “professional playboy.” He will be remembered for his sense of humor and always having a joke to tell. A collector or master recycler – if you needed it he would say I’m sure I’ve got it somewhere. He was a man of the soil and had his menagerie of animals or what he called “the little people,” especially the dogs.

Volunteer was his middle name. He was an active member of the American Legion Post 88, Forty/Eight, Old-Wheel and Norman Shrine Units, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Masonic Lodge 88 and 539. WFLA/ZCBJ Lodge 46, Friends Federal Credit Union Board and 25 years as a 4-H volunteer.

Walt served as Commander of Post 88 in 1981-83 & 1998-99. He thoroughly enjoyed preparing Legion floats for the Veterans Day and Christmas Parades, Christmas baskets for Veteran families, coordinating Veteran and Memorial Day Ceremonies at Norman cemeteries and organizing the oratorical contest.

As a Forty/eight member he loved planning and participating in the parties for the children at the JD McCarter Center.

Walt was a charter member of the Old-Wheels Shrine Club serving as Captain, Historian, Treasurer and Scribe. He also served as Vice President of the Norman Shrine Club.

Survived by his wife Isobel and daughter Karla Knoepfli of Norman; daughter Karen Buck and granddaughters Samantha and Abigail Buck and Son-in-law Gary of Houston, TX; Sister Helen Packard of Lake Jackson, TX; nieces and nephews; surrogate daughter Julie Nekouian.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to:

Crippled Children's Transportation Fund Make check payable to “Crippled Children's Transportation Fund” (Mail to India Temple Shrine at 3601 NW 36th Street, OKC, OK 73112-6324).

J.D. McCarty Children's Center (2002 E. Robinson, Norman, OK 73071).

Oklahoma State 4-H Foundation, Volunteer Development Endowment (205 4-H Youth Development Bldg, Stillwater OK 74078-6063).

Or please just plant a tree.

Visitation will be held 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 29, 2011 and Wednesday, November 30, 2011 with the family greeting friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Wednesday at Havenbrook Funeral Home, 3401 Havenbrook St., Norman. Services will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 1, 2011 in the Havenbrook Funeral Home Chapel with interment following at 3:00 p.m. In the Prague Cemetery, Prague, OK. Arrangements for Walt and his family were placed in the care of the Vice Family at Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman. Online condolences may be shared at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com.