Ellen Joan (Roitsch) Knape

Ellen Joan (Roitsch) Knape, 65, of Swiss Alp, died Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at Monument Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation

Center in La Grange. Ellen was born in Schulenburg on Oct. 7, 1948, the daughter of Kermit and Addie (Wunderlich) Roitsch. She was baptized on Oct. 28, 1948 and confirmed on July 22, 1962 at Philadelphia Lutheran Church in Swiss Alp by Rev. F.E. Eilers. She graduated in May of 1967 from Schulenburg High School in Schulenburg in the top 25  percentile of her class. Ellen married Eldon Earl Knape, Jr., the son of Delores and Eldon Knape, Sr., on October

21, 1967 at United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Swiss Alp by Rev. Arlyn Hausmann and Rev. F.E. Eilers. It was the

first marriage to be performed in the newly created church of Philadelphia Lutheran Church, Swiss Alp, Black Jack Lutheran Church in O’Quinn and Salem Lutheran Church in Freyburg. She worked as an accountant/ 

bookkeeper/secretary all of her career. She held several jobs throughout her career with her first job after high school

at Lauterstein’s Inc., a department store in La Grange, as a  bookkeeper from June through December of 1967. Her next

position was as a secretary/ bookkeeper at Koenig Funeral Home in La Grange for eleven years. She then was a stay- athome mom for two years. Her next venture was as owner/operator of Satin ‘N’ Lace Bridal Shop in La Grange for five years. She then worked at Ford Motor Company in La Grange as a bookkeeper and at McDonald’s and Clear Title Company for a short period of time. She then worked for Dairy Farmers of America in Schulenburg since Nov. 7, 1988

as an accountant and in Human Resources. Ellen then was coowner/ operator of Knape and Knape Ranching Operation from October 1967- to March 2007. She was known as “The Banker”. Up until her retirement on April 2, 2011, she was partner/operator of Knape and Knape Ranching Operation. Ellen was a lifelong member of United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Swiss Alp where she  was a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School Teacher. She was a member of the Worship Committee and since 1967, a member of WELCA (women’s group) serving as secretary and treasurer for several terms. She was also Newsletter Editor, Director of Swiss Alp Lutheran Heritage Foundation in May 2011, secretary of the church council and a member of the National Rifle Association. She is survived by son, Richard (Rick) Wayne Knape and wife, Kelly Elaine (Hickman); daughter, Sherie Ann Knape; two grandsons: Hunter Cole Knape and Colton Ty Knape all of Swiss Alp. She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Eldon Earl Knape, Jr.

Visitation was held on Friday, May 2, 2014 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Koenig & Strickland Funeral Home. Family received friends from 5 to 7p.m. Funeral Services were held at United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Swiss Alp at 10 a.m.

on Saturday, May 3, 2014. Burial followed at United Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial

contributions may be made to Swiss Alp Heritage Foundation, 2038 FM 3171, Schulenburg, Texas 78956. Family and friends can view and sign the guestbook online at www.lagrangefunerals.com. Koenig & Strickland Funeral Home in La Grange was in charge of arrangements.