Herb was born in Rahway, NJ. The only child to Edward and Maria Knoebel. When he was very young, his parents moved to where his father’s family had settled, Kissimmee/St. Cloud, FL. He graduated from St. Cloud HS in 1957 and joined the US Navy shortly after. In 1962, as an airman stationed at Moffett Field in Mt. View, CA, he met and married Iris Evenson. They were married 19 years and had two daughters together, Sonja and Jill. Following his service, he made Mt. View his home. He apprenticed as a roofer before obtaining his own contractor’s license in 1974, operating H.E. Knoebel Roofing Co. over 35 years, working all over the Bay area and Central Valley.

He moved to Oakdale in 1989. Herb’s greatest passion was cars, particularly stock car racing. He drove and owned race cars most of his life. Herb had great pride in his family, whom he often bragged about. Herb will be remembered for his cleverness and mischievous nature, along with his brilliant blue eyes. He was known as a true “character” and anyone who met him usually had a story. These stories always involved wild tales of his impulsive, spontaneous, fearless, humorous, generous, clumsy, and pure physical strength. Traits that he possessed in extra measure.

He is survived by daughters Sonja (Eddie Garcia), Oakdale and Jill (Scott Kester), Santa Cruz and grandchildren Ron and Summer Thompson, Oakdale.

Remembrances can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader

The Riverbank (Calif.) News

Oct. 9, 2024