RALPH E. KNEPPER
A Memorial Service for Ralph Eldon Knepper was held on Monday, August 16, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Holdrege, NE with Rev. Kenton Birtell officiating with Military Honors provided by the United States Army Funeral Honors Team. Inurnment was held on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the Westlawn Cemetery in Grand Island, NE.
Ralph Eldon Knepper, 87 years of age, of Holdrege, lost his battle with Parkinson’s Disease, on August 8, 2021, at his home in Holdrege. Ralph was born in Enders, NE on December 10, 1933, the eldest of four children born to Alvin and Minnie (Einspahr) Knepper. Eldon was baptized in January 1934 at Zion Lutheran Church in Imperial, NE. The family moved to Wauneta, NE where he was confirmed at Redeemer Lutheran Church. At 16 he was handed his diploma from Wauneta High School from his father.
After one year at the University of Nebraska, he enlisted in the US Army and was stationed in Augsburg and Hanover, Germany. He served in the Intelligence branch, preparing maps. He traveled throughout Europe and developed a love for touring. He was honorably discharged and reentered the University of Nebraska. He was vice president of Beta Sigma Psi and active at the campus Lutheran Church where he was choir tour director. There, across a bridge table and at choir rehearsals, he met his future bride, Paula Joan Roehrkasse of Grand Island.
The couple was married on, August 2, 1959 and after their honeymoon to the Canadian Rockies, they returned to Lincoln to finish their degrees; Ralph in engineering and Paula in a master’s program in music. While in school Ralph worked for the State of Nebraska, Interstate Division, and the US Geological Survey. In 1961 Ralph received his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.
He accepted the position of Hydraulic Engineer for Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, a position he would hold for thirty-three years. While in Hastings, NE the couple were active in Peace Lutheran Church. Ralph introduced his wife to golf and both were active in the Hastings Community Theater. Ralph won awards for his technical and set designs.
The couple moved to Holdrege with CNPPID. In 1968 Ralph passed the examination to become a Registered Professional Engineer. Ralph and Paula became active members of the Holdrege community and Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. Ralph served as president, elder, treasurer, and board member of the Mission Leadership Council for the congregation. He sang with the Lutheran choirs and The Group under Paula’s direction. Ralph served as president of the Central Nebraska Engineers Association, Holdrege Community Concert Association, Holdrege Country Club, and on the coordinating council of the Tassel. They were season ticket holders at Opera Omaha for decades.
Ralph and Paula were blessed with a loving extended family of sisters, brothers and sisters-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews. They loved to host the annul family weekend at Lake Jeffrey Lodge. They were avid Cornhusker fans and routinely traveled to regular and post season games. After his retirement, the couple traveled to Canada, Italy, Greece, Russia and Turkey and spent part of their winters on South Padre Island, Texas recovering from their hectic musical Christmas season.
Ralph was a prolific reader, enjoyed hunting and fishing, his roses and flower garden, and playing in golf tournaments. Ralph loved playing cards, starting as a preschooler playing cribbage with his dad and uncles.
Besides his parents, Ralph was preceded in death by; three brothers-in-law: Bernard and Ray Steinert and Glenn Trebelhorn.
He is survived by his loving wife, Paula Knepper of Holdrege; three sisters: Bernita Steinert of Wauneta, NE (Dan and his wife, LaNita of Hays Center, KS; Terry and his wife, Darla, children Matthew and Hannah of Shelby, NC; Joel and his wife, Blair of Logan, UT); sister Donita Steinert of Lincoln, NE (daughter Roni Olander, and her sons, Ian and Evan of Lincoln); and sister Shirley Pamp and her husband, Jim, of Centennial, CO (son Stephen Pamp of Lakewood,CO and daughter Kirsten Friel and her husband, Tom and their daughter, Isla of Carbondale, CO). Also surviving are two sisters-in-law: Claire Eason and her husband, Mike of North Bend, NE (son LTC (Ret.) Michael Eason and his wife, Tamara and their daughters, Victoria and Isabella of San Antonio, TX and daughter, Marcy Eason of Wahoo, NE); and Kathryn Trebelhorn of McAlester, OK (Michael Trebelhorn and his wife, Lisa of Lincoln, (children Nicholas and Joshua); son David Trebelhorn and his partner Andrew Queen of Tulsa, OK and Christine Trebelhorn of Yulee, FL (children Clayton, Trey and Sara and her daughter Ariel), other relatives, and many friends.
A memorial book signing was held on Sunday, August 15, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with family greeting friends from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home.
A memorial has been established in Ralph’s honor, and kindly suggested to the Phelps County Community Foundation or Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at HYPERLINK "http://www.nelsonbauerfh.com" www.nelsonbauerfh.com
The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.
