Hubert Knopik, 93, Dickinson, died Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at St. Benedict’s Health Center, Dickinson. Hubert’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 16, 2013 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Dickinson, with Fr. Kregg Hochhalter as the celebrant. Interment will take place later at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Dickinson Honors Team. Visitation will be on Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service, with a rosary & vigil at 6 p.m., with Deacon Bob Zent presiding.
Hubert Knopik was born on the family farm 20 miles northeast of Dickinson, on November 3, 1919, the son of Mike and Mary (Tendecki) Knopik. He attended rural school at the Iota School District #5 through the eighth grade. Hubert graduated from Model High School in Dickinson and spent time working on the farm until entering the service. He joined the United States Army on July 26, 1942 and served honorably as part of the medical corp. He spent two years overseas in England, France and Germany, and received his discharge on March 2, 1946.
He returned to the Dickinson area and taught school for two years near home. On June 29, 1948 Hubert was united in marriage to Mary Ficek at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. They moved to a farm four miles west of Belfield and two years later moved into Belfield. In 1954 they moved to a farm 12 miles south of South Heart, living and working there until 1991 when they retired and moved into Dickinson.
Hubert was involved in many civic and public organizations. He was a member of the Belfield American Legion Wm. C. Blair Post for over 45 years, member of the Catholic War Veterans for over 40 years, served as the first Grand Knight of the Belfield Knights of Columbus Council 6310. He also served on the Stark County Selection Board for 21 years, on the first Diocesan Pastoral Council, the Board of Directors of St. Joseph’s Hospital & Health Center for 16 years, and on the first Board of Directors of the Hospital Foundation. Hubert was very active in grain marketing cooperatives. Having served on the Board of Directors of the South Heart Cooperative Elevator for 14 years (seven as chairman). Hubert was instrumental in organizing Southwest Grain Cooperative. He had served as Chairman of the steering committee that was charged with the responsibility of developing the plan to build the facility and the organization to operate the Cooperative. He was the first Chairman of the Board of the Southwest Grain Cooperative, having served for 10 years with seven as Chairman.
Hubert is survived by three children, Marlene (Ray) Chorne, South Heart, Ken (Bernie) Knopik, Kalona, Iowa, and Keith (Leora) Knopik, South Heart; grandchildren, John Chorne, Cory (Kris) Chorne, Jennifer (Brad) Hetzler, Amanda (Keith Vedder) Chorne, Michael (Katie) Chorne, Shawn (Jessie) Berger, and Rena Rowe; great-grandchildren, Joey Wagner, Jacob Vedder, Paige and Chase Hetzler, Scarlett Chorne, Zackary Berger, Tyler Richter, Tanner Richter, and Tjaden Richter; sisters, Eleanor Bren, Dickinson, and Frances (Jerry) Meduna, Manning; and sisters-in-law, Magdalene Knopik, Genevieve Franchuk, and Irmgard Ficek. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary on February 27, 2010; his parents; brothers, John, Martin (Betty), Fr. Thomas, and Stephen; sister, Antonia (Pete) Polensky; infant brother, Sebastian; sister-in-law, Minnie Pavlicek; and brothers-in-law, Frank Bren and John Ficek.
