MINNEAPOLIS — James Stanley (Jim) Knoll, age 75, died Aug. 18 after a long battle with glioblastoma brain cancer.

Mr. Knoll was a lifelong resident of Andover, MN, a northwest suburb of Minneapolis. He attended the University of Minnesota and St. Cloud State University, graduating with a degree in accounting. He then joined his father, Stanley, and brothers at Knoll Farms in Andover, which was founded in 1937 and grew to become a prominent supplier of vegetables and melons across the United States.

Mr. Knoll was a board member of the Minnesota Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association and the University of Minnesota’s Anoka County Extension Committee for many years. He was also a key contributor to the development of the Minnesota Grown program, a statewide partnership between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Minnesota producers of specialty crops. He thoroughly enjoyed assisting fellow farmers and promoting locally grown products.

Mr. Knoll is survived by his wife of 55 years, a daughter, two sons, six grandchildren, his brothers, sisters and many other family members. He was preceded in death by his father and mother.