Name/Title
RecordsDescription
Louis Knobbe
April 6, 1932 – January 2, 2023 Louis Knobbe, founding partner of the intellectual property law firm Knobbe Martens, devoted husband, loving father and grandfather, died peacefully on January 2, 2023 at his daughter’s home in Spokane, Washington. Louis was born in Carroll, Iowa, the eldest son of Louis C. and Elsie M. (Praeger) Knobbe. He had one brother, Kenneth Knobbe, who predeceased him in 2011. Louis earned his BS in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University in 1953. While working in New York City as an engineer at Bell Labs, Louis met his wife of 67 years, Jeanette (Sganga). They moved to California where Louis worked at North American Aviation and attended Loyola Law School where he received his JD degree in 1959. He then joined Beckman Instruments as an in-house patent lawyer, until 1962 when founded what is now known as Knobbe Martens. Louis loved practicing law, and he loved networking and growing the firm by focusing on being the best they could be in their limited specialty and hiring very smart people. He devoted his time to numerous professional, social, and philanthropic organizations in Orange County and held many leadership roles. He was an avid supporter of the arts and was instrumental in bringing opera and classical music to Orange County. He was an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego Law School, and after retiring from the firm he became a mediator with JAMS. Louis was an avid reader and had an extensive collection of books. He spent many hours behind the lens of a 16 mm movie camera and later, a video camera. He enjoyed talking about his Iowan roots and working in his father’s hardware store. His hobbies were collecting model trains, photography, and making home movies, and he was a fervent movie buff and collector. He loved the desert and boating on the Colorado River and Lake Powell. After retiring from law practice, Louis and Jeanette traveled extensively and enjoyed spending time with their 5 children, Louis, Michael, Nancy (Arnold), John and Catherine (Pederson), their spouses, Jan Knobbe, Cheryl Knobbe and Larry Pederson, and 7 grandchildren, to whom he was affectionately known as “Bop Bop,” Daron, Rebecca and Troy Arnold, Olivia and Estella Knobbe, and Sara and Thomas Pederson. Jeanette predeceased Louis in 2021, and he spent his final year living with his youngest daughter’s family. There will be a private family service. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.