William F. Knapke, 84, 1917 Cranberry Road, St. Henry, died at 11:43 a.m. Sept. 17, 2008, at Mercer County Community Hospital, Coldwater.

He was born July 4, 1924, in Cranberry Prairie, to William and Rosa Hemmelgarn Knapke. On Oct. 21, 1950, he married Esther Hartings, who survives.

Other survivors are a son, Jerry (Nancy), Ohio City; a daughter, Linda Perez, Bryan; a sister, Lucille Hess, Dayton; two sisters-in-law, Eileen and Norma Knapke, both of St. Henry; six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one step-grandchild.

Deceased are four brothers, Claude, Bernard, Mark and Robert; and four sisters, Hilda Knapke, Rita Muhlenkamp, Sister Julia and Roselyn Muhlenkamp.

He retired from farming and was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church, Cranberry Prairie, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Celina.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, the Rev. Tom Hemm officiating. Burial is at the church cemetery.

Calling is 2-8 p.m. Friday and 9-10 a.m. Saturday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home, St. Henry.