Walter "Rick" Knupfer

Walter "Rick" Knupfer, Ph.D. Okemos Born December 06, 1949 to Paul and Eleanor Knupfer, Walter "Rick" Knupfer died March 31, 2009 at the age of 59. Writer and public humanist, gourmand and wine connoisseur, Rick loved the Midwest: its people, its food, its natural beauty. An accomplished camper, hiker, and canoeist, Rick could harvest an evening's food and drink (herbs, nuts, wild morels, and watercress) and provide dinner and lively conversation inspired by just a walk in the woods. He brought that passion into his writing, his work for the humanities, and his numerous board affiliations. Rick earned his Bachelor's degree, a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing, and a Ph.D. in American Studies at the University of Iowa; he was a beloved by his students there, and at Coe and Kirkwood colleges. After a career in wine and restaurant management, Rick directed Humanities Iowa, and then the Michigan Humanities Council. An energetic and passionate spokesperson for Midwestern culture, Rick gave numerous presentations at the local, state, and national level; he organized award-winning cultural events, exhibits, and festivals in both states. As president of the Board of Iowa Sister States, Rick traveled with the governor of Iowa to Veneto, Italy, where he worked to form close economic and cultural ties between Italy and the Midwest (including the establishment of a Barilla pasta factory in Iowa). Receiving numerous awards for both his public service and his writing, Rick published numerous poems and essays, and edited both an international poetry review, as well as a collection of international poetry in translation. At the same time, he loved his family life, and was proud of his two sons, Christopher (15), a Life Scout and Okemos High School sophomore, and Franz (29), who recently earned a Master's in Creative Writing at Johns Hopkins, and currently works with deaf children in Nepal under a Fulbright. He is survived by his wife, Joyce Meier of Okemos; sons, Franz and Christopher; brother, Peter Knupfer (Nancy) of East Lansing; and sisters, Katherine (Luis) Ponce de Leon of Chicago, IL, and Heidi Carico (Rod) of Moorhead, MN. Memorial services for Rick will be held Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Martha Parish, 1100 W. Grand River, Okemos, Michigan with the Rev. Gary Meier officiating. Contributions may be made to the American Brain Tumor Association, 2720 River Rd, Des Plaines, IL 60018 or the University of Michigan Aphasia Program, 1111 E. Catherine St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2054 in memory of Rick. Even after the onset of his illness, Rick found a way to serve others, as he facilitated art workshops for other adults at the aphasia clinic. Rick was an inspiration and teacher to us all.