Obit: Knack, Robert (1927 - 2011)

Contact: Audery Roedl

Email: audery@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Knack, Lang, Schneidewend, Ackerman

----Source: Loyal TRG (Loyal, Clark County, WI 01 June 2011)

Knack, Robert (30 MAR 1927-24 MAY 2011)

Robert L. "Bob" Knack, 84, Bryantown, Md., died on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, at his home. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., on Wednesday June 1, at the Christus Lutheran Church, Clintonville. Rev. Brian Crocker officiated. Interment followed at the Graceland Cemetery, Clintonville, with military graveside rites conducted by members of the Clintonville American Legion Post #63 and VFW Post #664.

Robert Lewis Knack was born on March 30, 1927 in Ferndale, Mich., the son of Otto Henry and Nora Minnie (nee Lang) Knack. He enlisted in the United States Air Force on Sept. 22, 1947, And was a veteran of the Korean War. While in the military, he received numerous awards and accommodations, having served as a communications specialist at Eglin Air Force Base, Pensacola, Fla., where he married Lila Schneidewend on March 29, 1952. He was later stationed at the American Embassy in Madrid, Spain, the Pentagon, the National Airport in Arlington, Va., and the 89th Military Airlift Wing Special Missions Division at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, from where he retired at the rank of senior master sergeant in April 1968. After his military service, he was employed by various contractors as an office manager and later chose to keep busy working part time as a custodian at Grace Brethren Church and School in Waldorf, Md., before completely retiring. Prior to joining the military, he was a roofer/carpenter and enjoyed many carpentry hobbies throughout his life. He also enjoyed working in his yard and relaxing with his wife at their summer lake home in their home state of Wisconsin. During his lifetime, he volunteered as a Parent-Teachers Association president and Home Owner association as treasurer. He belonged to the Air Force Sergeants Association, the American Legion, the Elks, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Lila Schneidewend Knack, Bryantown Md; three children, Debra Ackerman, Mechanicsville, Md.; Robert D. Knack, Waynesboro, Va., and Gary Knack, Bryantown; three grandchildren, Todd (Pam) Ackerman, Colorado Springs, Colo., Brian (Marissa) Ackerman, Durham, N.C., and Nathan Ackerman, Waldorf, Md.; six great grandchildren, Chase, Colin, Callie, Breanna, Corban and Mackenzie Ackerman; a sister, Eleanor (Perry) Stitchman, Billings, Mont.; a brother, Milton (Joan) Knack, Loyal, and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Gladys Reinke, New London, Irene Schneidewend, Gillett, Morbe (Frances) Schneidewend, Neenah, Leo (special friend Pat) Schneidewend, New Berlin, Leland (Florence) Schneidewend, Neenah, Paul (Ann) Schneidewend, Clintonville, and Arthur (Caroline) Schneidewend, Neenah.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Diana Lynn Knack; one brother, Otto Knack; two sisters, Betty Burkhardt and Joanne Knack; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Clarence (Magdeline) Schneidewend, Philip Schneidewend, ReVerna (Bob) Beyer, and Robert Reinke.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital P/O. Box 1000, Dept 142, Memphis, TN 38148, www.stjude.org, 1-800-873-6983.

An online guestbook including condolences can be found atwww.eberhardtstevenson.com.

Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home, Clintonville, assisted the family with arrangements.