Leonard Knopik

Leonard Knopik, 83, of Pillager, died April 17, 2012 at Good Samaritan Village - Bethany in Brainerd. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, April 21 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd with Father Steve LaFlamme officiating. Family and friends are welcome to gather one hour prior to services. Interment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery in Harding, MN.

Leonard was born on August 4, 1928 in Crow Wing County, the son of Peter and Mary (Kuka) Knopik. He attended schools in Crow Wing County before he enlisted in the US Marines in September of 1945. He was honorably discharged shortly after the end of WWII. After his return home, he was employed in St. Paul. He was united in marriage to Lucille Ebertowski on November 14, 1952 at Holy Cross Church in Harding. Following their marriage, they resided in the Harding area and built their first home in Baxter in 1961. In 1991, they built their retirement home in the Gull River area of Pillager where they resided until the time of Leonard's death. He began his trucking career for International Transport, Inc. and then started his own trucking business as a sub-contractor for International Transport and Midwest Specialized Freight. Leonard drove truck and transported freight to the lower 48 states, three Canadian Provinces and made deliveries to Alaska as well. During the war time periods, he transported war freight from Bremerton, WA, to the east coast including bombs by special routes. Leonard retired in 1997. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and watching the Twins and football.

Leonard is survived by his wife, Lucille; daughter, Gwendolyn and Reginal Buysse; sisters, Helen Pulak, of Harding and Beverly (Norman) Roscoe, of St. Mathias; and brother, LeRoy (Marlene) Knopik, of Sullivan Lake. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Louis; brothers, Clarence and Tom; sister-in-law, Agnes Knopik; sister, Rita Tschida; and brothers-in-law, Ed Tschida and Ed Pulak.

Arrangements are entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter.