David R. Knower

David R. Knower, only child of Roy L. and 5th child of Leona P. (Brockway Halverson) Knower, was born in La Crosse on May 23, 1951. Dave was born again on February 13, 1973. Dave, beloved husband, dad, and grandpa went home to be with his God and his Savior, Jesus, on March 10, 2021. Dave and Donna (Wyland) met and married in 1973, and were blessed with a son and two daughters: Chuck, Bridget, and Sarah. Dave farmed the home farm his entire life. Dave was diagnosed with terminal cancer on December 22, 2020. God blessed Dave, his family and friends with a gentle decline and enough time to bid all farewell, remaining lucid to the end. Surrounding Dave as he went to heaven was his wife of 47 years, Donna, other family members and close friends; as he desired, Dave died in the house he and his dad built from home-grown lumber in 1964. Dave accepted Jesus as his Savior on February 13, 1973, and sought to live in a God-honoring way from that point on. He was a farmer since childhood, working alongside, then in partnership, with his dad until health forced Roy’s retirement. Dave especially enjoyed doing work that used a tractor or backhoe. After Dave was forced to retire, he enjoyed mowing lawn on his Cub Cadet riding mower. Over his lifetime, Dave planted 26,000 trees of various species. He used some of the pine, sawn into lumber, to build his shop in the summer of 2020. Dave included an insulated lean-to on the south side for Donna’s personal use. Dave and Donna, following his parents’ example, raised a large vegetable garden each year, planting extra to share with family and friends; the garden always included LOTS of onions for Dave! He skipped gardening in 2020, to focus on building his shop, but had always helped in the whole process of ‘putting by’ the produce grown. He often sent a tired Donna to bed and finished the canning himself. As all good men, Dave took good care of his family; he turned his hand to whatever needed doing, making many personal sacrifices for the good of his family, working hard and long to provide a comfortable living for them. When he could, Dave loved to golf with his best friend from school, Charlie Groves; they would golf in the summer and bowl in the winter until the courses opened again. Bad knees forced Dave to quit these activities; having to give up golf was a sharp disappointment. But Dave kept a God-honoring attitude and ‘made do’ with his lifelong passion for the Packers and a less fervent interest of the Brewers! Dave is survived by his wife, Donna, his children: Chuck (wife, Amber and children: Lilly, Nolan, Klaire, and Amarah); daughters, Bridget and Sarah (husband Paul and daughter, Chaeli); his sister, Leota Olson, as well as many nieces, nephews, and their children. Many friends also mourn Dave’s passing; especially, Gary and Yvonne Lysne; Andy Miller; Neil Miller and Charlie Groves. Dave was touched and blessed by the many visitors and cards of support from family and friends, for himself and for Donna. Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Leona; brothers, Everett and wife, Joanne Halverson and LeRoy Halverson and sister, Ruthie Erickson. Funeral services will be held at Bible Baptist Church, Highway 35, Prairie du Chien, on Saturday, March 13, 2021. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m. Lunch in the church fellowship hall with burial at Utica-Seneca Evergreen Cemetery will follow. In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials are preferred. Thanks to Vosseteig Funeral Homes for their compassionate service to the family, especially Jena, Tuesday, Bridgett, and Justin. Also, a special thank you to DeAnna, Tammy, Sarah, Mary, and Teri of St. Croix Hospice for their kind and excellent care of Dave and family. “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jn 14:6 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Ps 116:15 Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Homes of Viroqua is serving David’s family. 123 W. Decker Street Viroqua, WI 54665 (608) 637-2100