LeRoy L. Knobel of Idaho Falls, ID passed peacefully at his home on February 1, 2026. LeRoy was born in Valley City, ND to Ruben and Ruth Knobel on July 10, 1945 and spent a brief time in rural Buffalo, ND before moving to Washington State. LeRoy went to college at the University of Washington and after graduation was married for a short time and worked for Boeing Corporation before going into the Peace Corp. After completing his Peace Corp assignment, he went to George Washington University where he earned his Masters’ Degree in Geology and in 1975 started his 32 year career with the U.S. Geological Survey in the New Jersey District Office, after a short stint in New Jersey, he transferred to Maryland before transferring to the USGS Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Project Office in 1986 where he worked for 21 years as the Project Geochemist and Water Quality Specialist retiring in 2007. His career achievements included authoring or co-authoring 46 Scientific publications including leading the Geochemistry work on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, Magothy, and the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer systems.

Leroy enjoyed numerous activities including annual trips to a cabin in Moosehead Lake, Maine, visiting relatives, golfing, fly fishing, collecting art, coins, books, and was very active with the eastern Idaho Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program, making a Friend for life in his “Little Brother Nick”. He was active with the Idaho Falls Friends of the Library, Idaho Falls Art Council, Idaho Falls Jazz Council, and was a very generous and caring friend.

LeRoy is survived by his sisters Shirley (Jim) Hanna and Penny Blanchard and Sister-in-Law Bonnie Knobel along with many nieces and nephews and grandnieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Ruben and Ruth, his brother Roger and sister Janette Chastain.

A celebration of life will be held Sunday February 22 at 2 PM at Marcellar's Wine and Brews in Idaho Falls. Memorial donations can be provided to any of the numerous charities LeRoy supported. The family wishes to thank the Nuclear Care partner nurses for taking care of him and being his friend for the past few years.