Duane “Duke” D. Knafla, 87
Sartell
Jan. 16, 1934 – Aug. 5, 2021
Duane “Duke” Knafla, 87, died Aug. 5 at the St. Cloud Hospital. His funeral was held Aug. 10 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sauk Rapids. The Revs. David Hinz and John Beck officiated and burial was in Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Little Falls.
Duane Donald Knafla was born Jan. 16, 1934 in Sauk Rapids to John and Matilda “Tillie” (Gratzek) Knafla. He honorably served our country in the U.S. Air Force from 1953-56. Duke married Meda Funk on Feb. 23, 1957 at Trinity Lutheran Church and Meda passed away March 17, 2000. He then married Bev Stave and Bev passed away Feb. 19, 2018.
Knafla lived in the Sartell area most of his life and worked as a pipefitter/job planner for St. Regis/Champion Paper Mill until his retirement on June 1, 1993. He then worked at Dingmann Family Funeral Home for several years. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, the American Legion of Sartell Post #277, and the Central Minnesota Carvers Club at Whitney Center. Knafla enjoyed golfing, fishing, bowling, wood carving, feeding ducks, visiting with friends and trips to the casino. He was proud of his family and had a special relationship with his son, David.
Survivors include the following: his son, David (Barb) of St. Cloud; special friend, Arlene Mendel of Sartell; stepchildren, Sharon (Gregg) Taubert of Beaver Creek, and Jeff Johnson, Gary Johnson (Nancy Keller) and Christine (Richard) Hupe, all of St. Cloud; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Meda and Bev; daughter, Dawn in 1996; and brothers, Norm, Dan and Jim.
Memorials are preferred to the Trinity Lutheran Building Fund.
Obituary, guest book and video tribute available online: www.williamsdingmann.com.
