Mamie K. Knish

MAMIE KATHERINE (KOPET) KNISH was called into God’s loving embrace on Tuesday April 22, 2025 surrounded by her family at Central Health Care.

She was born on February 17, 1931 to parents James Frank and Johanna Marie (Trcka) Kopet in Montgomery Township. She was baptized and confirmed at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church and attended Catholic school in Montgomery. Mamie was a graduate of the Class of 1948 from Montgomery High School.

After high school, Mamie worked as a secretary. She met Emil Knish at Green Giant where they both worked during corn pack. They were married on May 24, 1951 in Iowa. They resided in Le Center and were life-long members of St. Paul Lutheran Church where Mamie enjoyed teaching Bible School, Sunday School, and helping on the Funeral Committee at her church. They were blessed with eight children.

Mamie volunteered as a Home Activities Director at the Le Sueur County Fair for many years. She planted beautiful barrels of flowers for the fair and took home many blue ribbons for them. She also was a member of the Red Hat Society in New Prague, the VFW Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary in Le Center. She loved bird watching, reading, collecting church cookbooks and enjoyed gardening especially planting flower beds.

She worked at various jobs including the American Legion in Le Center, Brinkton’s as well as Le Center Schools and Mala Strana Nursing Home as a cook.

Mamie and Emil enjoyed dancing at Hardegger’s Ballroom with the big bands such as Jimmy Dorsey and Glenn Miller. They rented their booth by the year and went dancing 2-3 nights a week! They also enjoyed travel throughout the United States and Alaska. They enjoyed 63 years together before Emil’s passing in 2014.

Mamie also enjoyed Bingo, word finds, and Trivia at Central Health Care where she was lovingly cared for by staff. Mamie’s family is grateful for the care provided by St. Croix Hospice during her last days.

Mamie will be remembered for her culinary talents in the kitchen. She taught her family to can fruits and vegetables, cook, and bake. Her potato salad, Booya, poultry dressing and fried chicken, are just a few signature dishes she taught family to make. Her nurturing spirit leaves an indelible legacy of love, commitment, strong work ethic and dedication to family.

Mamie is survived by seven of her eight children: Barbara (Wayne) Krohn, Bob (Ordella), Gary, Bonnie (Wayne) Johnson, Randy (DeAnn), Steve (Evonne), Kimberly (Hermann) Klaas, daughter-in-law Terry Knish; 12 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her loving husband Emil; youngest son Emil Jr.; grandson Jason Bradshaw; daughter-in-law Lori Knish; great-granddaughter Annalise Knish; sisters Helen Jelinek and Tillie Lorence; brothers Alvin, James, and Joseph Kopet.

May Mamie enjoy the peace that God has promised through the Risen Christ and her cherished memory remain a blessing to all!

Visitation will be held, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the Le Center Chapel of Schoenbauer Funeral Homes, in Le Center. Funeral service will be held, Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 11:00 AM at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Le Center, visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be held in the Greenwood Union Cemetery in Le Center.