Arlene Knoll, of North Platte, passed away at the Hospice House in Omaha on November 16, 2021, at the age of 83.
Arlene was born in McCook, NE, to Arno and Mary Karre on February 23, 1938, and grew up on a farm in Hayes County, NE. She was active with 4-H and attended Germanville Country School. She attended her freshman year in McCook then finished at St. Patrick's Catholic School in North Platte. During her high school years, Arlene worked in the lab at St. Mary's Hospital. Following graduation she worked in the bookkeeping department at First National Bank.
On October 26, 1957, Arlene was united in marriage with Robert Lee 'Bob' Knoll in North Platte. The couple was blessed with six children and celebrated 56 years of marriage.
Since Bob was serving in the U.S. Army, the couple lived in Texas, Colorado and Arizona, then returned to North Platte following his discharge. They moved to Hershey in '69 and then built their home 10 miles southeast of Hershey and settled there in 1974. The home eventually became the Knoll's Country Inn Bed & Breakfast. Arlene and Bob enjoyed operating the B & B where people came as strangers and left as friends.
Arlene was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Hershey and St. Patrick's Catholic Church in North Platte. For many years she baked loaves of bread which she donated to the homeless shelter kitchen and from 2004-2009 she had 2,410 donations to the Red Cross Apheresis program. For over 15 years, Arlene welcomed any person who drove a long distance to receive cancer treatments in North Platte to stay at the B & B for free. She later became a survivor of breast cancer. Arlene was a kind, giving, caring woman with a gentle soul.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; parents, Arno and Mary Karre; sister, Norma Quick; and brother, Jerry Karre.
Survivors include her children, Geralyn (Alan) Lamb, of Seminole, FL, Kendra (Tim) Betts, of Hershey, Darren (Silja) Knoll, of Berthoud, CO, Klynn Knoll, of Central City, Brent Knoll, of Miami, FL, and Karry Knoll, of St. Paul, MN; grandchildren, Hazel, Kilah, Kamry, Kenzie, Madeline, Jack and Anya; great-grandchildren, Elise, Ivy and Isiah; her brothers, Rod (MaryAnn), Jack (Pat), Tom (LaDonna), Tim (Joan), Doug, Rich and Fred Karre; and other family.
After donating her body to science, cremation followed. Arlene's life will be celebrated with a Wake Service at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at Odean Colonial Chapel. Inurnment will be 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 16, in Fort McPherson National Cemetery followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in North Platte with Celebrant Father Josh Brown.
The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Hershey Volunteer Fire Department, Great Plains Hospice, North Platte Homeless Shelter or St. Patrick's Catholic Church.