Brian Eugene Knodle

Brian Eugene Knodle, 53 of Fillmore, entered heaven on Sunday, November 17th surrounded by his family at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis after being overcome by cancer.  Brian was born to be a farmer on June 18, 1971.  He attended St. Louis Catholic School, Nokomis High School and earned his dual major in Agriculture Business and Production and minors in Plant and Soil Science, and Agribusiness Economics from SIU-Carbondale in 1993 as he began his own farming enterprise and assisted his father with E. Knodle Farms.

Brian married his wife Heather Hampton of Windsor in 1996.  Their four children: Kendall, Alden, Bond and Fallon manage and work on their family farm, Knodle, Ltd.  He enjoyed commodity marketing, researching, applying technologies and management changes, and spending time with his children. 

Brian was known for his integrity, being observant and perceptive with an innate sense of the right thing to do.  Those who knew him well enjoyed his sense of humor.  His faith in God was unwavering and his commitment to getting a job done was tireless - willing to complete any task from frying fish with Knights of Columbus to cleaning out grain bins alongside his farm team members.

Brian’s life was one of work and service that included the IL Young Leader Committee, Montgomery County Farm Bureau Board, Ag Literacy Advisory Committee, and Extension Council, St. Louis Catholic Church Capital Campaign Committee and Catholic School Board, Starr Shooters 4-H Club Leader, Hillsboro Health Systems including serving as Hospital board president, and M & M Service Company Board. 

Surviving family members include wife Heather Hampton+Knodle; children Kendall, Alden, Bond, and Fallon Knodle; his mother Joyce Knodle; brothers Jeff (wife Tammy), Kent (wife Nikki), and Steve (wife Erin); and 13 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Eugene Knodle.

Brian’s life will be celebrated at St. Louis Catholic Church in Nokomis with a visitation on Tuesday, November 26th from 4-7 p.m.; and on Wednesday, November 27th with the rosary at 8:30 a.m., visitation from 9-10 a.m. and funeral immediately following with burial at Bost Hill Cemetery.

Memorials may be sent to St. Louis Catholic School or Church of Nokomis, or Five Loaves NFP food pantry in Fillmore, Illinois.

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