LeRoy L. Knox, 88, of Kewanee, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on September 20, 2021, at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home. He was born in Yates City, Illinois to Lewis and Rae Loretta Irene (Gilpin) Knox on January 30, 1933.Having become motherless at an early age, he was raised by his grandmother, Mrs. Martha Gouff who taught him in his early life Christian virtues and values. His father later remarried Velma (Rush) and she became an important part of his life and the family's.At the young age of seventeen and on the day after the start of the Korean War, he joined the United States Navy and was stationed in Lakehurst, NJ to helicopter squadron 2 (HU-2) from which he was temporarily assigned to four different ships assisting the crews in air-sea rescue work. Those ships included: USS Midway, USS Coral Sea, USS Lake Champlain, and the USS Salem.After serving three and a half years in the Navy and being honorably discharged, he met and married the love of his life, Roberta Fitchpatrick. Together they had four children, Michael, Rose (Mark) Elbus, Milton and Matthew (Rhonda) Knox; six grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother; wife, Roberta in 2013 after 58 years of marriage; and two of his children, Mike in 1994 and Milton in 2013.He worked 36 years at Caterpillar in Research, the Tool Room and finally in Machine Repair. After retiring from Caterpillar, in 1991, he worked at Illinois Central College in their machine shop. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan, fisherman, golfer, and artist. His faith in Christ was a vital part of his life and he had served as a Sunday school teacher, lay preacher, and deacon for many years.Graveside services will be at 11:00 am, Thursday, September 23, 2021, at Yates City Cemetery. Military Rites will be accorded by the Farmington Veterans Council. For those who would like to attend and follow the procession, please be at Schueneman-Tumbleson Funeral Home at 9:45 am, Thursday, September 23, 2021, or meet at the graveside. Colin Edwards will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project or OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home. Please leave an online condolence for LeRoy's family at www.schuenemantumblesonfuneralhome.com.