James Knackstedt

James Knackstedt was born February 13, 1934 
in Chicago, Illinois to Robert & Violet 
(Busch) Knackstedt.  He was the fourth of five 
children.  The family moved to Wild Rose where 
his parents had the Knackstedt Restaurant in a 
building that was later torn down.  It was 
located right next to the Wild Rose Hotel. The 
parents with children Jean, James and  George 
lived in an apartment over the restaurant. He 
was active in basketball, baseball and track.  
His junior year his was on student council and  
Homecoming King and Ann Brownlow was Queen.  
Homecoming was January 26, 1952 because 
Wild Rose didn't have a football team at that 
time. He was able to get an additional time out 
in basketball by "getting the air knocked out of 
him" from time to time.  His nickname was Beach. 
He married Valorie Gorges, daughter of Mr and 
Mrs Henry Gorges of New London January 8, 
1955 in Wild Rose. They had three children, 
Debra, Vicki and James. They divorced 
June 25, 1969. James worked as a machinist 
for Mercury Marine. He had a lifetime partner, 
Correen Redlin.  James died June 2, 
2012 in Oshkosh.