Obituary of Helen Marie Knoblauch

Helen Marie (Zweifel) Knoblauch, died Sunday, September 6, 2009 at Country Comforts Assisted Living in Cambridge at age 94. Helen was born in New Glarus March 21, 1915, the second daughter of Joseph and Bertha (Wittenwyler) Zweifel. She was baptized at the Zwingli Swiss Reformed Church of New Glarus. Helen attended elementary, middle school and high school in Monroe, graduating in 1932. She then attended Green County Normal School in Monroe, graduating in 1933, after which she taught in rural one-room schools in Green and Dane Counties. The first rural school she taught in was Oakshade, in Green County between Monticello and Albany. This school setting is now in the Swiss Museum in New Glarus. Helen attended UW-Whitewater, graduating with a Bachelor of Education degree. She also did additional study at UW- Madison. Helen was married on July 11, 1939, to James B. Knoblauch in the First Presbyterian Church in Dubuque, IA. They lived in Cambridge and Random Lake where Jim was a teacher, coach, principal and Superintendent. Helen taught Kindergarten or First grade for more than 36 years. During WWII Helen followed her husband as he served in the Army by working for the Office of Price Administration in La Jolla, CA and El Paso,TX. She worked for the Army Signal Corps in Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri and the Army Post Office in Camp Shelby, Hattisburg, Mississippi. Helen and her husband enjoyed golfing, reading, teaching, and any sports with the Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers and the UW Badgers. She visited all 50 states, traveled in Europe, Mexico and Canada. Helen was a long-time member of the Oakland-Cambridge Presbyterian Church, where she was a Deacon and a member of the Elizabeth Circle. She was also a member of the WEA, NTRA, WRTA, local AARP Group and Board Member, Lake Ripley Country Club, L.R.C.C. Women�s Organization, Cambridge Historical Society (which displays one of her early classrooms), Monticello Foundation, Cambridge Foundation, and many other volunteer activities, including delivering Meals on Wheels until age 94 (�we have to do something to help these older people�)! Helen is survived by her sister, Hazel Kundert, Monticello and Hazel�s daughter-inlaw, Judy Kundert, Platteville; sister-in-law Gertrude Knoblauch, Pagosa Springs, CO. She is further survived by newphes John (Shirley) Kaepernick, Waukesha; Edward (Donna) Bryner, Sun City West, AZ, James (Debbie) Knoblauch, Pagosa Springs, CO; and a niece, Carol (David Larsen, Fitchburg. She is further survived by great nephews and nieces, great-great nephews and nieces, many wonderful friends, former students and kind neighbors. Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Jim on March 7, 1984, her parents and step-father Otto Keller, nephew Dr. Kenneth Kundert and niece Patricia Duvall. Her family is grateful fo the loving care Helen was given by Rainbow Hospice Care and both Mim Jacobson and Mirian Korth at Country Comforts where she spent her final days in dignity and comfort. Funeral Services will be held Monday, September 14, 2009, at 11:00AM at the Zwingli United Church of Christ, 416 East Lake Ave., Monticello, WI with the Rev. Lawrence H. Balleine officiating. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery, Monticello. Friends may call from 4-7PM on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at Nitardy Funeral Home, Cambridge, WI and after 10AM on Monday at the church until the services. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Knoblauch Scholarship Fund at Cambridge High School, Oakland-Cambridge Presbyterian Church or the Cambridge Historical School Foundation.