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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Michael J. Knope
1960 - 1996
DOD = 02 10
1996
A Watertown firefighter/paramedic
was killed Saturday night in a snowmobile accident in Langlade County.
Michael J. Knope,
35, of 417 Dewey Ave., died from injuries suffered in the accident, which
occurred on a trail near Sawyer Lake Road, approximately four miles north of
Langlade, just before 10:26 p.m., according to the Langlade County Sheriff's
Department. He was pronounced dead at
the scene.
Knope, a member of the Watertown Fire Department for 11 years, was instrumental
in the development of the paramedic program in the city, according to Fire
Chief Richard Olson.
"He was pretty much
responsible, almost single-handedly, for the creation and implementation of the
paramedic plan for the city of Watertown," Olson said.
Knope, who was promoted to lieutenant
in March of 1995, was coordinator for the emergency medical program for many
years. As coordinator, Olson said Knope was
responsible for ensuring that training for full time and auxiliary members was
up-to-date.
Members of the fire department
have received counseling to help them handle Knope's
death, Olson said. Lt. Dave Weber, a
member of the department's critical incident debriefing team, was talking to
fire department employees as early as Sunday morning.
Olson said the counseling will be
ongoing as members attempt to handle the loss of their colleague. "He was
a very talented individual," Olson said.
"From my perspective as fire chief, Mike Knope
can't be replaced. We'll hire someone,
but it won't be Mike Knope's replacement.
Funeral services for Knope will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at St. Mark's Lutheran Church with the Rev. Donald Sutton
officiating. Burial will be in the
Lutheran cemetery.
He was born on Nov. 23, 1960 in
Burlington, the son of Jerry and Janet (Volant) Knope. On Feb 17, 1990, he married Laurette Kirst at
St. Mark's Lutheran Church.
He was a graduate of St. John's
grade school and a 1979 graduate of Watertown High School. He attended the
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
In addition to his duties with
the fire department, he was a member of Firefighters Union 887, where he was a
former president and a current vice president.
He was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran
Church, Ducks Unlimited, Chickens Unlimited and White Tails. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.
Survivors include his wife; one
son, Jacob, at home; his parents of Watertown; his paternal grandmother, Bessie
Knope of North Port, Fla.; one sister, Meredith; one
brother, Jonathan (Marie) of Watertown; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other
relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his
maternal grandparents, Eugene and Esther Volant; and his paternal grandfather,
August Knope.
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin