Margaret “Marge” Helen Knetter

Margaret “Marge” Helen Knetter, 103, formerly of Rhinelander, died peacefully on Monday, December 23, 2024 at Heritage Assisted Living in Eau Claire.

She was born in Brokaw on January 19 of 1921 to the late Harry and Mary (Schneck) Feck. Marge attended school in Rhinelander and graduated from Merrill High School in 1938. She and her husband, Ed, settled in Rhinelander, and built a home on the Wisconsin River where they raised their four boys. They moved to Edgar in 1988 and then Marge moved to Eau Claire in 2005.  

Marge had many interests over her long and vibrant lifetime. The family home in Rhinelander featured incredible vegetable and flower gardens and a generous raspberry patch. She also foraged for mushrooms and wild blueberries every season. She canned vegetables, juices, fruit, meat, and fish that would provide for the entire winter. These delicious ingredients were a part of what made her an excellent cook. 

She remained active in later life, pursuing many hobbies including fishing, water aerobics, golf, and cards well into her 90s. She spent many winter seasons in the southern United States, near Biloxi, Mississippi and Fort Walton Beach, Florida. In her last decade of life, she especially enjoyed boating on the Wisconsin River. She was an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Rhinelander where she organized many a Friday night fish fry. 

She is survived by three sons, Dale (Norma) Knetter, Don (Sue) Knetter, and Michael Knetter; daughter-in-law, Sheryl Knetter; sister, Mavis Gilbert; eight grandchildren, Kris, Quinn and Tony, Dave and Tricia, Jason, Maxine and Lillian; eight great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and other family members.

Marge was preceded in death by her husband, Edmund Knetter; son, Edward; six siblings, Dan, Harry, Jack, Isabel, Rose and Bill; and daughter-in-law, Karen Knetter. 

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff of St. Croix Hospice and Heritage Senior Living for their expert care and hospitality and also to Marge’s Eau Claire nieces, Patty Menard, Luanne Shea and Jane Feck Dienheimer, for their unwavering support for and entertainment of their Aunt Marge.

A service and celebration of life will be held later this spring. Evergreen Funeral Home and Crematory in Eau Claire is serving the family.