Urban Knobbe, 99 of Carroll, died early Wednesday morning, March 27, 2024 at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Friday, April 5, 2024 at St. Lawrence Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Craig Collison. Music will be by Kathy Halbur and Kathleen Macke. Lectors for the Funeral Mass will be John Knobbe and Thomas Knobbe. Gift Bearers will be Elizabeth Knobbe and Katie Knobbe. Eucharistic Minister will be Kathy Hrubes. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Austen Merritt, Rasmus Knobbe, Jackson Knobbe, and Ian Knobbe. Casket Bearers will be Michael Sayre, TJ Sayre, Joe Sayre, Quinn Knobbe, Jacob Knobbe, and Thomas Knobbe. Burial will be at 1 p.m., Friday at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in rural Lohrville with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2024 at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll. A rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m., followed by a time of sharing. Additional visitation will be from 9-9:45 a.m. on Friday at St. Lawrence Church prior to the Funeral Mass.
In lieu of flowers, please consider at donation to St. Anthony Nursing Home, where Dad received wonderful care the last 3 months of his life. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Urban’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Urban was born September 19, 1924 in Breda to parents Henry Knobbe and Anna Wolterman. After graduating from St Bernard’s High School in 1942, he entered the U.S. Navy in March 1943. He served in the Pacific Theater until January, 1946. He married Patricia Finken in 1951 in Defiance, Iowa. They settled in Farnhamville where they raised their 7 children (6 sons and 1 daughter).
Urban managed the Farnhamville Coop for over 40 years. After retirement he and Patricia moved to Carroll. Urban was active in many pursuits, holding board and advisory positions at numerous companies including AGP, Land of Lakes, Omaha Bank for Cooperatives (Cobank), Agri-Industries, Farmers Commodities (FCC), Associated Benefits Corporation (ABC), United Purchasers Association, Farmland Industries, and St Anthony’s Regional Hospital. He founded Knobbe Fertilizer Company and CATV in Farnhamville. Urban was inducted to the Cooperative Hall of Fame 2012 and was named Hospital Trustee of the Year in 1998. He had a deep interest in railroads, helping negotiate the upgrade of the CNW, Union Pacific, and Illinois Central railroad lines to keep grain flowing through central Iowa, and helping the city of Carroll acquire the historical Carroll Depot. His loving wife, Patricia, died in 2003. Urban then married Jean Potthoff in 2005.
Urban was previously a parishioner of St. Bernard in Breda, Iowa, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lohrville, Iowa (where he chaired the building committee), and presently St. Lawrence in Carroll.
Dad loved and cherished his family. He loved all sports, his hobbies which included golf, card games, puzzles, music, singing with Jean at church, and dancing. He was generous with his time, he was a man of faith, he loved to visit. He had a great sense of humor, and He was a good friend, husband, father, grandfather, and businessman.
And Dad will be greatly missed!!!
Urban is survived by his wife Jean, and his children Michael (Carol), Patrick (Gloria), Joseph (Cheryl), William John, Christopher (Ann), and Kathy Hrubes (Jeff). He is also survived by his 13 grandchildren (Elizabeth, Katie, Quinn, Jacob, Thomas, Austen, Rasmus, Jackson, Ian, Michael, Thomas (TJ), Joseph, and Thomas) as well as 5 great-grandchildren (Maichael-Urban, Josie, Ryan, Jack, and JJ). In addition, Urban is survived by Jean’s loving family Alan, Kim (Karen), Lisa (Bill), Sue (Dave), and Lois (Brian) as well as many step-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Anna Mae, and many friends.
Urban was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Patricia, and his son Thomas James, as well as brothers Vern and Elmo and sisters Marian (Kirby), Adeline (Mohrhouser), Delores (Peterson), and Inez (Daiker). He was also preceded in death by Jean’s daughter Julie (Randy).
