Philothea native James B. Knapke, 75, of Hoagland, Ind., died Feb. 27, 2009, at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, Ind.

He was born on July 4, 1933, in Philothea, to Edward and Helen Dues Knapke. On Sept. 14, 1957, he married Ruth A. Schindler, who died Jan. 6, 2006.

Other survivors are two sons, Jim (Roselyn), Fort Wayne, and Tony (Amy), Hoagland; four daughters, Debra (W. Cleland) Dade, Houston, Texas, Lisa (John) Beckman and Marilyn (Tony) Johnston, all of Hoagland, and Karen (Eric) Scherrer, Fort Wayne; two brothers, Jerry (Marlene), Coldwater, and Edward (Toni), Fort Myers, Fla.; a sister, Mary Lou Fortener, Coldwater; and a brother-in-law, Louis Braun, St. Henry; 22 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Deceased are a brother, Robert; and a sister, Sylvia Braun.

He was a salesman for the diamond die industry and owner/operator of Nine Mile Restaurant from 1986 through 1996. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hessen Cassel, Ind., and the American Legion Post, Fort Wayne. He graduated from Coldwater High School in 1951 and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War as a member of the 101st Airborne.

Funeral Mass is 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church, the Rev. Thomas Lombardi officiating. Burial is at St. Joseph Cemetery, Hessen Cassel, with graveside rites by the American Legion.

Calling is 3-8 p.m. Tuesday at Haggard & Sefton Funeral Home, Decatur, Ind., with recitation of the rosary at 2:30 p.m. A prayer service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Contributions can be made to St. Joseph Catholic School, Hessen Cassel.

Condolences can be sent at www.haggardandsefton.com.