Donald E. Knick

Donald Elmer Knick was born January 16, 1926 in Dakota County, MN, the son of August H. Knick and Holdina (nee) Reinke. He passed away on June 5, 2018 at Rochester health Services West. He was baptized in Trinity Lone Oak Lutheran Church, Eagan Township and confirmed his faith in Trinity Lutheran Church of Northfield. He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Rochester where he served as chairman of the Health Cabinet from 1998-2009. Mr. Knick attended school in Rosemount and Farmington and graduated from Northfield High School in 1943. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1943 and was on active duty in 1944-1945. He attended Carleton College for two years and graduated from Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Springfield, IL in 1950. On March 30, 1947 he married Irene M. Wohlfeil at Trinity Lutheran Church in Northfield. Mr. Knick was ordained in 1950 and served congregations at Ogema and Tulaby Lake, then Deer Creek and Almora from 1950-1957, and Fergus Falls from 1957-1976. He did graduate work in the School for Alcoholism Studies at the University of North Dakota in 1975 and the School for Counseling Alcoholic Families at Moorhead State University in 1976. He spent one year in residency in Clinical Pastoral Education at Rochester Methodist Hospital in 1976-1977. Besides serving as staff chaplain at Methodist Hospital until 1989, he also worked part time as a mental health practitioner for Lutheran Social Service from 1983-1997 and as a spiritual consultant for outpatients at Fountain Center Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Unit in Rochester from 19902000. Rev. Knick served the church at large on the Board of Directors of Lutheran Island Camp, Henning, MN from 1954-1976, the Chaplaincy Committee of the Minnesota District LCMS 1960-1963, an LCMS Circuit Counselor from 1963-1975, the Social Ministry Committee of the LCMS Minnesota South District from 1989-1992, and a mentor for young pastors in the Minnesota South District from 1993-1996. His community service included the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Minnesota Board of PTSA, and the Ottertail County Welfare Advisory Board. Chaplain Knick was Board Certified and served on certification committees in the College of Chaplains. He is survived by his wife (Irene), sons Steven (Sue Nass) of Boise, ID; Kevin (Judith) of Fergus Falls; and Jonathan of Rochester; sister Bernice Windholz of Martinsburg, WV; nine grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah, of Anoka; a grandson, five brothers, and three sisters. A Funeral service will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church (869 7th Avenue SE Rochester, MN) at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 9, 2018. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. A service of interment will be in Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Fergus Falls, MN on Monday, June 11, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Memorials can be to the donor's choice. To share a special memory or condolence please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901 (507) 289-3600