Elaine Marie Knope, age 84 of Shawano, passed away Sunday, August 10, 2025, at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Neenah. A proud, lifelong resident of Shawano, Elaine was born June 24, 1941, to Delmar and Erna (Robenhagen) Buettner. Elaine grew up with her older sister, Carol, and younger brother, Mike, on the family farm on E. Lieg Street, where she developed a lifelong love of all critters except caterpillars (really, really not caterpillars) and picked beans in the fields that were eventually sold to the Shawano school system for the former high school that is now Shawano Middle School. Elaine was a firecracker of a little girl with a vast imagination, and, like her siblings, had a creative streak a mile wide. She enjoyed telling stories about her grade school years, such as her determination to be the first to school so she could collect some money from her teacher to fetch food for the classroom kittens. Elaine attended Lincoln School and then Shawano High School, where she met her future husband Wilbert James Knope Jr, whom everyone called Junior or J.R. The pair married on February 25, 1961, at St. James Lutheran Church, of which they were lifelong members, and moved into their home at 1122 Evergreen Street in Shawano. Daughter Kelly was born in 1962, followed by Lori in 1965. Elaine and Junior enjoyed a lively social life with their dear friends, the Hammers, Kuppers, and Bahrs, bowling, going up north, traveling to warmer climates and playing cards. Elaine had the greenest of green thumbs and could grow anything. Her gardens, both flower and vegetable, were spectacular. So were her magazine-worthy Christmas trees. Her house was always impeccably decorated and immaculate. At least until she and Jr. adopted their late-in-life daughter, a stray kitten they named Piper. Then her house was impeccably clean and decorated except for the 300 cat toys strewn across the living room. And the six plates of cat food, so Piper never had to settle. In Elaine’s house, “cat food” happened to include fresh shrimp and premium vanilla ice cream daily. She was also a doting pet mom to cats Cinnamon and Motorific, mutt Jeffrey, and wire fox “terror” Godfrey.
Elaine was a wonderful cook, adopting her mom’s credo of seven sweets and seven sours for holidays and special occasions. And sometimes lunch. Or breakfast. She was a hotdish master, made literally the best stuffing on the planet (Jimmy Dean sage sausage), and was family famous for her strawberry jam, chocolate chip cookies, all kinds of pies, cranberry pudding with butter sauce and chocolate Christmas roll. She also made countless tasty contributions during her volunteer efforts at St. James Church. Sadly, neither of her daughters inherited this skill. Elaine was a stay-at-home mom until both girls were in school, then began her career with Shawano School District, working as a classroom and library aide at Olga Brenner Elementary, Franklin Middle School, and Shawano High School. She was also the “detention lady” at the latter. Because of this, her children were pretty well-behaved throughout their school years, whether they liked it or not. Elaine loved working with young kids with special needs, and when her oldest granddaughter, Chelsey, was born with a sparkling mind and severe cerebral palsy, she became the most loving, creative Grandma ever. Some favorite games were Grocery Store Checkout Ladies and Dr. Chelsey and Nurse Grandma Elaine. She also helped daughter Lori take Chelsey on epic birthday trips to Door County, Lake Geneva, and Chicago, and to see the Gaither Gospel Hour live in Green Bay and Milwaukee.
For more than 20 years, Elaine would meticulously pack boxes and bins with all the comforts of home into her car so she, Chelsey, Lori and Junior — and later just the ladies — could spend four days in the accessible cabin at Buckhorn State Park eating all the stuff and doing all the crafts that Chelsey loved to eat and do at Grandma’s house. Only in the woods, by the water. Elaine also treasured her granddaughter Andria Karcz, being the same imaginative bestie she was to Chel, hosting Andria after school, attending her sporting events, and cheering her on as she became an
extremely skilled nurse. Some of Andria’s best memories of “G-ma” are trying to sneak neon colors or the occasional Mike Wazowski past her on Easter egg and cookie decorating day. Her ability to craft any Halloween or dance costume necessary. The special trick-or-treat baggies she would whip up for each of Andria’s friends on Halloween. And Elaine’s knack for recognizing if you had a special “something” — butterflies for Chelsey, hedgehogs for Andria — and gifting you with every incarnation of said thing for years to come.
After her kids and grandkids grew up, Elaine devoted her time to saving Lincoln School from being torn down, volunteering her time at St. James and the Shawano Historical Society (especially its annual Rhubarb Fest), enjoying her Red Hat lady outings and comrades, and working on the family cookbook. She and Kelly were avid shoppers, saw countless touring Broadway plays (only in the good seats), and were devoted fans of Dudley Birder productions at St. Norbert College. In Elaine’s later years, as she did with our dad, Kelly became Elaine’s tired-but-tireless caregiver, making heroic efforts to allow Mom to stay in her home up until her final days.
Left to cherish Elaine’s memory are her daughter and son-in-law, Kelly and Rick Karcz of Shawano, and their daughter, Andria Karcz of Mountain View, Calif.; daughter and son-in-law, Lori and Rik Acken of Wauwatosa, and their kids Kendrick and Abby Acken of Bay View, Katie and Josh Plyter of Clifton Springs, NY, and Keenan Acken of Minneapolis, great-grandkids Kinley Plyter, and Noble and Adelaide Acken. She is also survived by her dear sister-in-law, Vicki Lore of Eureka, Calif; her cherished nieces, Ellyn (Mark) Ruhlmann of Grayslake, IL, and Elisabeth (Jim) Roen Kelly of Wauwatosa; dear friends, Kay Hammer and family, Curt Kupper, and other special friends, family members and members of the Shawano community whose lives she touched.
Elaine was preceded in death by her husband, Junior; her parents, Delmar and Erna Buettner; her beloved sister, Carol Rowan, and brother, Mike Buettner; her treasured granddaughter, Chelsey; dear friends, Jean Kupper, Bob Hammer, Judy Bahr, and Sheila Stamps; and many other family members and friends.
Elaine’s wishes were that you each remember her as she was in your warmest thoughts of her. Private family graveside services have been held. Memorials in Elaine’s memory may be made to the St. James Lutheran Church radio broadcasts — which uplifted Mom in her final years — at 324 Andrews Street, Shawano, WI, 54166, or to the Shawano County Historical Society, 524 N Franklin St, Shawano.
Condolences may be sent to Kelly Karcz, W5355 North Shore Drive in Shawano.
Mickelson Funeral & Cremation Service of Shawano is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences at www.mickelsonfs.com.
Our Danish Queen is now at peace in the arms of her Savior and those who loved her who went on before.
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