Sep 10, 2019

Minnesota vegetable industry advocate Knoll dies

James Stanley Knoll, 75, died Aug. 18 with his loving family by his side. He is in peace after a long battle with glioblastoma brain cancer.

He is survived by his wife Jane, and they were blessed with 55 years of marriage. He is also survived by daughter, Julie (Pete) Lux; his sons, John (Lisa) and Jim Knoll; his grandchildren, Emma, Hannah, Andrew, Madison, Marcus (Rachel) and Moody; his brothers, Jeff (Jeorgette) and Bob (Sandy); his sisters, Judy, Kathy and Jolene (Tom) and many other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his father Stanley and his mother DeLores.

A lifelong resident of Andover, Minnesota, Knoll attended the University of Minnesota and St. Cloud State and graduated with a degree in Accounting. Shortly afterwards he rejoined his father Stanley and brothers at Knoll Farms, which grew to become a prominent supplier of vegetables across the United States.

Knoll was an innovative businessman who loved to assist fellow farmers and promote locally grown products and was a key contributor to the development of the Minnesota Grown foundation. Jim was also a board member of the Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Association as well as the Anoka County Extension Committee for many years.

A funeral service was held Aug. 22.