Brian Wendell Knickrehm
January 22, 1965 - August 13, 2025
Brian Wendell Knickrehm Obituary
Asheville, NC - Brian Wendell Knickrehm passed away sleeping peacefully at his home in Asheville, NC on August 13, 2025. Brian was born in Joliet, IL on January 22, 1965 to Wendell and Jeanne Knickrehm and, along with brother, Mark, spent his youth in Peotone, IL. He attended University of Illinois at Champagne and then University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Brian then settled down in North Carolina, ultimately in his beloved Blue Ridge Mountains, where his son, Alex, was born and raised.
Brian spent much of his career as a chef, first at the Exchange Restaurant in Greensboro, NC, then at Biltmore Estate, and finally at Red Stag Grill in Asheville. His unabashed passion for all-things-food, local farmers and artisans, craft brewing, charcuterie and our beautiful Appalachian home earned him many like-minded friends and associates in the community. Brian was a talented chef, a loving dad, and an avid fly fisher and outdoorsman. He was a life-long learner who dove into new interests and talents with zeal and a sharp mind. His old buddy Andy called him a Renaissance man, and that sounds about right.
Brian was preceded in death by his father, Wendell Knickrehm; paternal grandparents Osmar and Pearl Knickrehm; maternal grandparents James and Mary Foster; and most recently by his close friend, Parker Sniffen.
Brian is survived by his mother and stepfather, Jeanne and Milton Erickson of Hatfield, WI; his brother and sister in-law Mark and Katie Knickrehm of Kernersville, NC; his son Alex Knickrehm of Durham, NC; Alex's mother Dia Baker of Asheville; and his mother in-law Sheryl Baker of Asheville. He is further survived by a delightful multitude of cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws. He will be sorely missed.
A special thanks to the Grand Bohemian Hotel for honoring Brian's many years of service, and to the warm regards from the Asheville culinary community. A remembrance will be held on September 6, 2 PM, at Juliet's Tavern in Joliet, Illinois.
Asheville, NC - Brian Wendell Knickrehm passed away sleeping peacefully at his home in Asheville, NC on August 13, 2025. Brian was born in Joliet, IL on January 22, 1965 to Wendell and Jeanne Knickrehm and, along with brother, Mark, spent his youth in Peotone, IL. He attended University of Illinois at Champagne and then University of North Carol
Published on September 2, 2025