We lost a great friend and racer today. Jr was one of the greatest car owners and gentlemen ever involved in racing. He will be greatly missed by family, friends and anyone who ever had the pleasure of meeting him on or off the race track. We have lost one of the all time great ones. RIP & Godspeed Jr.
Walter "Junior" Knepper
Walter E. “Junior” Knepper, 80, of Fairview Heights, IL, born March 22, 1934, in Belleville, IL, died Tuesday, January 20, 2015, at Memorial Hospital, Belleville, IL.
Mr. Knepper owned and operated K & K Garage since 1960. He started auto racing at the age of 13. Junior owned his own race cars since the 1950’s, winning championships in midget racing, sprint cars, and dirt championship cars. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Belleville, IL. Walter was a U.S. Army veteran.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Frieda M., nee Fauss, Knepper; a brother in infancy; and two brothers-in-law, Alan Obst and Paul Wallenfels.
Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Mary A., nee Schmitz, Knepper, whom he married on September 16, 1956;
two children, Sandra L. (John) Cummins of Belleville, IL,
and Steven L. (Bonnie) Knepper of Swansea, IL;
four grandchildren, Christa Garner, Jason (Jamie) Cummins,
Nick Knepper, and Mackenzie Knepper;
five great-grandchildren, Emma and Alyssa Garner,
and Audrey, Chase, and Reed Cummins;
and his sister, Lucille Wallenfels of Miami, FL.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at
www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, January 22, 2015, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, January 23, 2015, at the funeral home with Chaplain Joe Chetta officiating. Entombment will follow at Valhalla Mausoleum, Belleville, IL.
