James Knipper

James A. Knipper, 71, of Earlville passed away Thursday, December 27, 2018, at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Cedar Rapids after a brief illness. Visitation will be held 1 - 8 p.m. Sunday, December 30, 2018, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville. Visitation will continue Monday, December 31 from 9-10 a.m. prior to funeral services. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 31, 2018, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Earlville with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Dennis Conway will officiate. Jim was born March 30, 1947, in Dubuque County, Iowa, the son of Laverne and Alice (Lammers) Knipper. He married Bonnie Helle on November 30, 1968, in Earlville, Iowa, and five children were born to this union. He was a humble father and grandfather who was quiet and kind at heart. He was a lifelong farmer in the Earlville area on the Helle family farm who loved to play cards and socialize with people, but his true passion was farming. Jim is survived by his wife of 50 years, Bonnie, children: Mike (Becky) Knipper of Earlville, Angie (Al) Hoeger of Delhi, Peggy (Joe) Hildebrand of Manchester, Peter (Amanda) Knipper and Luke (Dawn) Knipper, all of Earlville; grandchildren: Allison, Erin and Dylan Knipper, Shawnae, Macy and Olivia Hoeger, Madison and Maleigha Hildebrand, Jada, Ava and Kyra Knipper, Blake and Trent Knipper; siblings: Dennis (Janice) Knipper of Greeley, Gene (Mary Pat) Knipper of Dyersville, Dianne (David) Kluesner of Luxemburg, Ken (Shirley) Knipper of Earlville, Marilyn (Dan) Friedmann of New Vienna, Steve (Vickie) Knipper of Dyersville, Bob (Patty) Knipper of Thousand Oaks, CA, and Ruth (Pete) Bockenstedt of New Vienna; in-laws: Linda (Roger) Recker of Manchester, Karla (Dick) Jasper of Dyersville, Nancy (Ken) Dunkel of Dyersville, Mary (Al) Hoeger of Delhi, Lyle (Marsha) Helle of Earlville, Dale (Heidi) Helle of Lago Vista, TX, and Carl (Karen) Helle of Verona, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents, Laverne and Alice Knipper, two grandchildren: Karli Rose Hoeger and Reece James Knipper, and parents-in-law: Marvin and Olga Helle, Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com