At his request, no services will be held. Online condolences at www.habingfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Bob passed away peacefully, without pain, at home at 100 years and 16 days!
Bob was born on August 26, 1914, in Winnebago, Minnesota, the ninth child and last survivor of eleven children of Maxwell M. Knopf and Nellie May Ring.
The family moved to Los Gatos in 1917 when Bob was three years old and then to Campbell in 1919.
He graduated from Campbell High School and then attended San Jose State College. At San Jose State he met Georgianna Louise Kann (Doddie) of Santa Cruz, they were married in Carmel in 1939 and built their home on a hill in Los Gatos.
During WWII, he worked at Hendy Iron Works in Sunnyvale making steam reciprocating engines for hundreds of war and merchant ships. After the war he became a journeyman brick mason.
In 1950, Bob partnered with his brother Ted to form Knopf Bros., a General Building Construction company in Los Gatos, building many homes and commercial buildings there and in the valley.
Many times he volunteered his time and building talents to the community. He was a member of the Los Gatos Masonic Lodge, 32nd degree Mason and Life Member of Scottish Rite.
In 1958, the family bought a ranch in Morgan Hill and farmed the “all valley crop, prunes”. After retiring, Bob and Doddie sold their home in Los Gatos and traveled between Campbell River on Vancouver Island, Canada and San Carlos and Manzanillo, Mexico. He loved to go fishing, Canada and Mexico provided the perfect setting. The family eagerly awaited the canned and smoked fish that he brought home.
No longer traveling, they landed back in Morgan Hill in a cute little cottage next to their son’s home.
Bob was the consummate vegetable gardener, he enjoyed watching each seed grow and he kept meticulous rainfall details for years and years.
Bob and Doddie have three children, Roger (Janie Wharton) of Morgan Hill, Phil (Bonnie Findlay) of Los Gatos and Georgianna (or Diney) of San Luis Obispo. Four grandchildren: David (Gina) Knopf; Carrie Knopf; Bryan (Kristen) Knopf; Claire (Brian) Lindstrand. Nine great-grandchildren: David and Gina’s (Alexandra, Christopher, Gianna and Dominic Knopf). Carrie’s (Olin Bernhoft). Bryan and Kristen’s (Riley, Griffin and Grayson Knopf). Claire and Brian’s new baby, Hazel LeeAnn Lindstrand, born on 9-10-2014, the same day that Bob passed away.
Also survived by his sister-in-law, Miriam Votaw Kann and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by Georgianna (Doddie), his wife of 68 years in 2008, his parents and his 10 siblings.