Obituary of Hans Gerd Knepper

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Hans Gerd Knepper passed away quietly at the age of 87 on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the Hospice Waterloo Region, Cook Family Residence.

He will be dearly missed by his children, Wendy Knepper (Lee Koenig), Debbie Knepper and Heidi Steinmann (Jeff), as well as his stepdaughter, Patricia Spitzl.

Papa Hans was the proud and loving grandfather of Ally and Joshua (Olivia) Knepper; Elliot and Norah Steinmann; Nicholas and Noah Spitzl; and great-grandfather of Chelsea. 

Born in Wuppertal, Germany to the late Otto and Elisabeth (Mersch) Knepper. Survived by his sisters, Barbara Hammer (Kenneth) and Erika Engel; sisters-in-law, Inga Knepper and Christa Knepper; and close friends, Clint Rohr and Jim Haskill. Predeceased by his sister, Heidi-Marie Knepper; brothers, Otto and Dieter Knepper; brother-in-law, Peter Engel; Martha and Ken Haskill who were like family to him after he moved to Canada; and beloved partner, Brenda Reddon.

A passion for adventure and travel led Hans from Germany to Canada at the age of 19. Deciding to make Kitchener-Waterloo his home, Hans became a Canadian citizen and pursued a career in construction both as an entrepreneur and construction coordinator at the University of Waterloo. His love for carpentry extended to every aspect of his life, including the building of toys for his children, decks for friends, housing developments, volunteer projects and large-scale construction works on campus.

Hans was a lifelong learner and avid reader with a penchant for thrillers. After completing business studies in Germany, Hans went on to undertake apprenticeships in Canada where he became a certified tradesman in framing, foundations and interior/exterior finishes. At University of Waterloo, Hans took courses in economics, sociology and the arts.

Known for his fun-loving spirit and strong work ethic, Hans gave back generously to the community as a leading member of the Optimist Club and Chamber of Commerce. He participated on multiple boards and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.

In Hans’s free time, he loved to socialize, travel and help others. He took delight in visits with family and friends, chats with acquaintances and fresh opportunities to make friends wherever he went. Favourite trips included visits to the Muskoka region, Sedona, Florida, Portugal and Germany. Closer to home, Hans was always busy helping someone with a renovation project and willingly provided advice on ‘the right way’ to get the job done.

Resilient and optimistic to the end, Hans found the good in everyday moments, despite his failing health and a long battle with cancer. Whether you called him Mr. Knepper, Hans, Fanz, Papa or Dad, he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

A memorial will be held at Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Friday, May 2, 2025 at 11 a.m. with refreshments to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Foodbank of Waterloo Region, WRHN Midtown (formerly Grand River Hospital) - Cancer Care Center or Hospice Waterloo Region would be greatly appreciated.