from a family of 11 kids. We’ve had Knopf family reunions
here with as many as 85 people.”
The kitchen is tailor-made for people who love to cook,
and the wood stove in the family room has its own story.
“One morning during a very dry winter season we
lit a fire in the wood stove,” Roger said. “We tamped it
before leaving the house for the day. Little did we know
that a spark would escape and catch fire on the roof.
Thankfully, a passerby saw smoke and called 9-1-1. The
fire department doused the fire and saved our house.”
It took quite a bit of work to restore a section of their
family room after the fire. To this day, a small swath of
charred wood remains on a redwood panel near the wood
stove. “It’s our little souvenir to remember what happened
and how lucky we are,” Roger said with a smile.
Also on the property are a cottage in which Roger’s
parents lived for 30 years, a separate work building, a
beautiful swimming pool and a three-story kids’ playhouse
complete with a crow’s nest.
The Knopfs’ son David is Acting Assistant Chief with
the San Jose Police Department and their daughter Carrie
is a neo-natal ICU nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital.
On weekends, their five children enjoy spending time at
“Grammie and Grampa” Knopf ’s house.
It’s hard not to notice the beautiful and sizable Poppy
Jasper Rock in the Knopf ’s back yard. Roger gave us the
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
back story.
“You can’t find poppy jasper just anywhere, but a vein
of it runs through part of Morgan Hill. Years ago, Anthony
Goularte, our long-time friend and previous owner of
Associated Concrete, was clearing ground on another project
when he came across this chunk of poppy jasper. He cleaned
and polished the rock and brought it to us as a token of
appreciation for our friendship and for Roger’s help on a
project in the past. It’s been part of our back yard
ever since.”
Home is Where the Heart Is
Janie’s appreciation for fi ne art and good design is evident as
we tour the house, but what really comes through is a sense
of the Knopfs’ cherished family history and family life in
Morgan Hill.
Janie shared some of her artwork, including hand-painted
gourds and a stained glass window. Kitchen cupboards dis-
play her mother’s cup and saucer collection. An historic flag
from Janie’s American flag collection hangs on the kitchen
wall alongside a plaque from Roger’s youth as a member of
Future Farmers of America. In another room hangs a framed
print that lists Roger’s name among the original investors
of South Valley Bank. In the master bedroom, a collection of
baseball caps highlights the couple’s community involvement
as well as their travels. Framed historical documents
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