William "Bill" M. Knoepfler

Most of Bill’s friends and family have heard by now of Bill’s death on Saturday, December 15 but for those who haven’t, here’s what jackie, Abbie, Neal and Olivia want you to know about the man they called husband, dad, grandpa, best friend.

He was a proud employee/owner of Knoepfler Chevrolet, the staff, and as the Parts Manager for most of his adult life, he was proud of the department that he called home.  He had a positive attitude even on a bad day, found something good to say about everyone and gave people the benefit of the doubt if they were having a hard time.  Thank you all for sharing day to day life with Bill, he enjoyed each and every one of you. 

Cancer strikes indiscriminately and though we may have felt that it wasn’t fair that it came for Bill, it didn’t make any difference.  Cancer doesn’t care about fair.  Cancer doesn’t care about the number of lives it scares, tortures or ruins.  Cancer is selfish and destructive.

Bill's eternally positive attitude was what helped him and his family get through the last few months of the hardest time of their lives together.  Bill’s daughter, Abbie, her partner, Neal, and the beautiful little soul that is their daughter, Olivia, were a constant source of support and comfort.  And he was thankful every day for the love and support of his wife, jackie. 

Bill died the way he lived - on his terms. He did not give up or lose hope.  He and jackie changed what they were hoping for and as a result got exactly what they wanted – a peaceful passing for a man that deserved just that.  One last thing that those who knew him well will appreciate is that he never lost his sense of humor.  Even in his last hours in the ER, he was joking with the medical staff and making his wife laugh. 

Bill will be cremated (there will be no burial) but prior to that, his eyes will be donated.  He would be happy to know that he will be helping someone else to see the wonders of this world that he loved so much. 

Fireworks – enough said.

He was a scuba diver who was enthralled by the ocean and it’s creatures but could not for the life of him capture that beauty on any camera he ever owned.  His two favorite diving buddies were Abbie and Neal and they will be lost without him the next time they are underwater as they relied on him for navigating.

He loved meandering county roads on his motorcycle, feeding the birds and deer in his backyard with Olivia’s help and the quietness of the last few months with his wife.

Bill is also survived by his brother Charlie (Christy), sister Katherine (Willy) and brother Jim (Cathy), nephews and niece (and their families); Ben, Joe, Bryan, Josh, Maddie, Jackson and Sam;  many cousins, great-nieces and -nephews, his Knoepfler Parts family and friends too many to count.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Barbara Knoepfler and his father-in-law, Bill Christerson.

Services will be Thursday, December 20 at the Knoepfler Chevrolet Showroom, 100 Jackson St., SC.  Visitation will be 4 - 6 and storytelling, led by Jeff Macfarlane, begins at 6.  Please remember that Bill did not like to dress up so he would want those attending this service to come comfortably dressed in their favorite jeans. 

People love to send flowers or plants but Bill would argue that donating to worthy causes is much more productive.  A donation to any organization that helps all of humankind would be worthy of the kind of spirit he had and to which he also donated.  Locally, he donated to Girls, Inc, Red Cross and to the Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence among others.  He had been donating to Mayo Clinic ever since his father had open heart surgery there 30 years ago.  Of course it's up to you but Bill and jackie had a wonderful life and knowing that others have not been as fortunate; it just makes sense to help others.

Thank you to Meyer Brothers Funeral Home for facilitating Bill’s final party.