James Knacksteadt

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 torn down.  It was located right next to
the Wild Rose Hotel. The parents with children Jean, James
& George lived in an apartment over the restaurant..  He
was active in basketball, baseball & 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 & Mrs Henry Gorges of New London
January 8, 1955 in Wild Rose. They had three children,