Obituaries: Knuth

Posted on May 11, 2015

John KnuthJohn Knuth

John F. Knuth, 85, of Bloomington, passed away at 2:55 a.m. on May 11 at McLean County Nursing Home in Normal.

His funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bloomington with Pastor Terry Strom officiating. Visitation will be from 3-6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington.

Interment will be at Park Hill Cemetery in Bloomington. Full Military Rites will be accorded by Bloomington-Normal American Legion Honor Guard and the Military Funeral Honor Guard. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran School in Bloomington.

John was born on Sep. 9, 1929 in Bloomington, a son of John C. and Lillian Peifer Knuth. He married Shirley B. Robitske on Jan. 20, 1954 in Bloomington.

Surviving are his wife, Shirley Knuth of Bloomington; daughter, Deborah (Richard) Kingdon of El Paso; son, David Knuth of Normal; two granddaughters, Jessica Knuth and Jennifer Knuth , both of Bloomington; one grandson Bradley Kingdon of El Paso; two brothers, Eugene (Margaret) Knuth of Bloomington and Charles (Mabel) Knuth of Frederick, Ill. and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

John attended Trinity Lutheran School and Bloomington High School. He was employed at General Grocery in Bloomington for over 30 years, retiring in 1975.

He proudly served as a Staff Sargent with the United States Army in the Korean War from 1951-1952 where he was a tank driver and mechanic.

John was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church, VFW Post Local #454 Bloomington.

In the winter of 1964, John and Shirley built their family home in Bloomington, where they lived for 52 years. The joy of his life was helping people by repairing their cars and working in his garage rebuilding minibikes.

He loved his Boxer dogs, camping, fishing and hunting. He never knew a stranger and enjoyed spending time with his service buddies and reminiscing of his Army days.

John will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

The family would like to thank the caretakers and staff at Heritage Health in Bloomington and McLean County Nursing Home in Normal.

Online condolences and memories may be left for the family at kiblerbradyruestman.com.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…