Obituary of Glenn Knodel

Glenn Knodel, age 72 of Yankton passed away unexpectedly at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD on Wednesday, December 18, 2013. Funeral Services will be 10:00 AM, Saturday, December 21, 2013 at Calvary Baptist Church, Yankton with Rev. Jon Cooke officiating. Burial will be in the Yankton Cemetery. Visitations will begin at 5 PM, Friday, December 20, 2013 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton with a 7 PM prayer service. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Glenn Rueben Knodel was the son of Rueben and Carrie (Steiger). Glenn was born May 21st, 1941 in Yankton, South Dakota and raised on the family farm in the Yankton area. He attended Walshtown School and graduated from Volin High School in 1959. Following High School he attended college at University of South Dakota/Springfield. After college, he worked at various positions in South Dakota and on the west coast. He married Kayleen Baade on New Year's Eve 1970 in Yankton, SD. From 1968 until 1985 Glenn worked for the State of Alaska during the spring and summer months as a surveyor and project manager for the Airport and Highway Departments. The winter months he spent back in South Dakota doing carpentry work. Presently, Glenn was farming on the Knodel family farm, keeping busy as a handyman, and driving bus. He drove bus for the Yankton School district for 25 years. He always enjoyed taking the high school teams to their events and watching them develop into fine young men and women. Glenn was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church. He was a servant leader, drove bus for the pre-school children and senior connection, and was always available to help anyone in need. Glenn volunteered many hours during the church's relocation and remodel project in 2008. He served faithfully as an usher for many years providing all church attendees with a warm and friendly welcome. Glenn and Kay enjoyed attending many of the Yankton athletic and arts events. Glenn is survived by his wife Kayleen, of Yankton, SD; sister Darlene Norwood (Jim) Lancaster, CA, brother Bill Knodel (Gladys) Sioux Falls, SD, and many nieces and nephews. Pallbearers: Todd Knodel, Mike Knodel, Tim Knodel, Matt Knodel, Brent Barta, Bob Barta. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rueben and Carrie Knodel, brothers James and Leroy Knodel, and sister Shirley Knodel. Glenn was a very kind and generous man; he was greatly loved by his family and everyone who knew him.