Kenneth W. Knauf
December 3, 1937-June 3, 2008
Kenneth W. Knauf, 70, of Niles-Buchanan Road, Niles, died at 8:28 a.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2008, in Lakeland Hospital, Niles.
Mr. Knauf was born on December 3, 1937, in Niles, to Frederick Roy George and Iva Mildred (Sloop) Knauf, and lived in Niles most of his life. He graduated from Niles High School, and earned bachelors and master’s degrees in Education from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant. Throughout his student career, he participated in academic honors, services, and social organizations, and athletics, especially wrestling. As a teacher, Mrs. Knauf was employed by Bentley High School, Flint, MI, and Traverse City (MI) High School, teaching biology and history, and continuing his interest in athletics, coaching wrestling and football. He came back to Niles to work for Kool-O-Matic where he served as vice –resident.
Ken was well-known as the owner and operator of the Dairy Queens in Niles since 1892. He was also a past president of the Michigan Dairy Queen Operators Association. He was a member of the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce for 14 years, was a past president of the board of the Niles Community Federal Credit Union, a member of the B.P.O. of Niles Elks #1322, and a long time member of the Central Michigan University alumni association.
Ken had always enjoyed fishing and hunting, and more recently was enjoying spending time at their lake house with his family, including his dog, “Bear”.
On June 24, 1951, in Bay City, MI, he married the former Sandra L. Shaheen, who survives. Also surviving are their daughter, Kari (Michael) Reed of Niles; grandchdilren, Nicholas, Nichole, nd Michel II; his sister, Judy Tennison of Simpsonville, SC, and Sandra's brother and sisters, Sylvia (Ray) Cummings, Sonia Lownsbury, William (Sue) Shaheen, Helen (Faris) Cadora, Donna (Mrs. Daniel) Shaheen, and Cynthia Shaheen. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and a dear friend, Shair Neuman.
Ken and Sandra had been caring for his father, Fred, who died just two week ago. Ken was also preceded in death by his mother, Iva in 1998; and by sisters, Phyllis Knauf who died in 2002, Delors Stevenson who died in 1957, and Iva Jean Kanuf who died in infancy.
The service for Kenneth W. Knauf will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at the Halbritter Furenal Home.
Submitted by family member; publication details unknown