Esther M. (Devos) Knappmiller

Esther M. (Devos) Knappmiller passed away peacefully on April 25, 2018 surrounded by her husband and family.  She was born on March 5, 1935 to John and Evelyn (Dellise) Devos in the Town of Lincoln on the family farm.  She graduated in 1954 from Casco High School and was always a Casco Comet at heart.  After graduation her father drove her to Algoma where she lived and worked at the Algoma Net Company.  She met the love of her life Vic at the SkyClub in Alaska, WI; second bar stool from the south when he went in for a pack of Pall Malls.  They were married on June 13, 1959 at St. Hubert Church in Rosiere.   Together they purchased The Grove in Kewaunee and ran it for over 20 years.  After they sold the Grove in 1979 Esther worked for Leyse/Vollrath Company until her retirement.  She was an avid high school sports fan and loved her Packers.  Mom worked hard and loved to celebrate with family and friends, especially up at their cabin in Fence, WI.  Esther will always be remembered for her hospitality; no one ever left her house hungry.
She is survived by her husband Vic of 58 years, her son Bill of Kewaunee, her four daughters and son-in-laws: Tina (Ken) Robinson, Kewaunee, Ann (Paul) Ravet and Sue (Don) Beyer of Luxemburg, and Kim (Kevin) Dax, Kewaunee.  She was very proud of all her grandchildren, Brad(Kim), Michele(Jason), Josh, Jenna, Jaden, Mike, Brock, Karley, Chelsea, and Rylee and her two great-grandchildren Addison and Kroy.  She is further survived by her siblings Laverne (Les) Malcore, Ann (Pete) Kashik, Tom (Terry) Devos, and Shirley Devos.  Vic’s siblings; Al Knappmiller, Joan Bontempo, and MaryAnn Breitlow.  She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, in-laws Herman and Christine Knappmiller, her siblings and in-laws; James (Johanna) Hafeman, John Devos Jr., Ron Devos, Leonard (Ann) Knappmiller, Mary Carol Knappmiller, Frank Bontempo, and Ken Breitlow.
Visitation will be on Monday, April 30th from 3:00 to 7:00 PM at Buchanan Funeral Home followed by the closing prayer service.  Visitation will continue on Tuesday at 9:00 AM at Buchanan Funeral Home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM celebrated by Fr. Jim Dillenberg and Dcn. Chuck Agnew at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Kewaunee followed by burial in the church cemetery.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to all the staff at Atrium Acute Post Care Center for the wonderful care and love they gave mom and our family for the past 8 years.  Thank you to all the family and friends who visited mom, she enjoyed every minute of it.  Lastly, THANK YOU Dad and Bill for taking care of Mom when she was at home and for your daily visits to the nursing home to make sure she was comfortable and loved.