Knafla received the pewter trophy during a ceremony at the annual firefighter’s banquet. Knafla said the award and honor came to her as a big surprise.

 

“I’m humbled,” she said. “Receiving this award is a complete surprise and I share it with all my other firefighters because not one of us is better than the other. We all work together and thus this is a department award more than anything.”

 

Knafla has been with the department since June of 2007 and is married (Robert) and has two kids (Jonathan, 20 and Rachael, 15). She works as an analyst for Gold’n Plump out of St. Cloud.

 

Knafla grew up in Palmer Twp. and attended St. Cloud Tech HS and also went to SCSU. She became a firefighter that month in 2007 because she felt she owed to a community she really appreciates.

 

“I’ve always lived in the area and have many friends and neighbors in Palmer that have helped and supported me through the years,” she said. “Being a firefighter gives me the opportunity to give something back to the community I live in.”

 

Knafla is a certified EMT and also worked for Gold Cross Ambulance for four years where she gained a lot of experience and know-how on the job. She says those lines of work are rewarding to her and gives her a good feeling when she’s able to give of herself to help others.

 

“I was raised on a farm and we worked hard and learned to work together,” said Knafla of her childhood under the parenting of dad, John and mother Terese (Weis). “And that’s the same philosophy with being part of a fire department. We all work hard and work together and really respect who the person is and what they bring to the table.”

 

Colleen has seven siblings including Brian Weis, Maureen Havert, Kathleen LaPointe, Eileen Meemken, Kelly Weis, Neal Weis and Sheileen Sakry.