Bill Knight

Bill was born in Sparta, Wis., on August 5, 1922, to Thomas and Augusta (Pischke) Knight. He served with the Army Air Corps in the Pacific during World War II as a co-pilot on a B-24 Liberator and was a member of V.F.W. Post 1530 of La Crosse. On December 21, 1946, he married Elaine Draeger at First Ev. Lutheran Church in La Crosse.

After his discharge, he attended La Crosse State Teachers College, where he received his Bachelors degree in Education. He later received his Masters degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Bill began his teaching career as the band director at Holmen High School. After a short time there, he served as a substitute teacher in the area for several years. He then took a teaching position at Lincoln Middle School in La Crosse in 1960, where he continued to teach until his retirement in 1984. From the early 1950s until 1970, Bill also owned and operated with his family an A & W Root Beer stand located in Marshall, Minn.

Bill was a long-time member of First Ev. Lutheran Church in La Crosse where he served on the Board of Elders. He also served on the board of the Teachers Credit Union. In his free time, Bill enjoyed playing cards with family and friends and, after retiring, loved travelling.

He is survived by his wife, Elaine; one daughter, Kathleen (Scott) Guthrie of Winona, Minn.; one son, John (June Duffy) Knight of Franklin, Wis.; three grandchildren, Bryan Guthrie of Little Canada, Minn., Sarah Guthrie of La Crosse, and Heather (Darryl) Dauphin of Rose Hill, Kan.; and several nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by two sons, Billy and Randy Knight; and a sister, Margaret Clark.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 11th, at 11:00 a.m., at First Ev. Lutheran Church in La Crosse. Pastor Richard Pamperin will officiate. Burial, with military honors, will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, La Crosse. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 10:30 am until the time of service. Memorials may be directed to First Ev. Lutheran Church.