Shawano Icon Remembered For Multiple Roles
Former Shawano Fire Chief Doug Knope passed away Wednesday at the age of 80 after a six-and-a-half year battle with cancer. Knope began as a firefighter in December of 1960, eventually retiring in April of 2016. It was in 1967 when he realized Shawano did not have an ambulance service and along with his brother Pete, they purchased a hearse from each local funeral home to start one in Shawano. Knope was one of the first 100 EMT’s in the state of Wisconsin with the help of a few friends and neighbors. Shawano Ambulance Service is still run today by his son-in-law Pat Trinko. Doug Knope was also the Shawano County Coroner for 20 years. As his kids were growing up, his hope was for them to stay in Shawano, which is why he purchased Dearco Glass and Paint. To his pleasure all three stayed within the Shawano community. He’s survived by his wife Toni, their three children and six grandchildren. A memorial is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday September 2 at St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano.