ROCHELLE — Agatha Naomi Knaak, 102, passed away peacefully at Liberty Village Manor Court, on July 7, 2023, in Rochelle, Illinois, surrounded by her loving family.
Agatha was born on July 8, 1920, to Neal Pleasant and Oma (Edwards) Pleasant, in Cambria, Illinois.
She had a very inquisitive mind and loved school; she remembers being the champion multiplier in 3rd grade! She also loved literature and poetry, passing her love of reading to many in the family. Agatha graduated from Elgin High School, in 1938, where she played basketball and was first chair in the orchestra on the viola. She shared stories of walking 2 miles through the woods to school, staying warm by the potbelly stove and riding her horse bareback. Agatha married Frank "Bud" Knaak on June 22, 1940 at the House of Hope Presbyterian Church, in Elgin, IL. Agatha worked at Sherman Hospital, in Elgin, IL. and taught Sunday School at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where she later became superintendent of Sunday School. Bud and Agatha raised their three children in Elgin and moved to Rochelle, IL, in 1991, to be closer to family. They were married 73 years before Bud passed away in 2013. Agatha was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Rochelle. She loved to read her daily devotions and would still listen to the Sunday sermons on her treasured transistor radio. "Gram" loved her family and her greatest joy was spending time with them. She lived by the motto, "Life is uncertain; eat dessert first!" It was such a gift that she was able to share so much of her life with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had a very sweet spirit with strong convictions and was loved by all who were blessed to know her. When asked on her 102nd birthday about her secret to a long life, she simply said, "Trust in the Lord and He will take care of everything."
She is survived by her twin children, daughter and son; son-in-law and daughter-in-law; daughter-in-law; sister; seven grandchildren; eleven great -grandchildren: one great-great-grandchild and many special nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Frank Knaak on August 9, 2013; son, James Knaak; stepfather, Carl Linden; brother, William Pleasant; sister-in-law, Maxine Pleasant; brother-in-law, Sonny Johnson; grandson-in-law, Erik Gilbert; great- grandsons Mark and Alexander O'Brien and special lifelong friend, Gertrude Patterson.
There will be a private service and burial for the family at Lawnridge Cemetery. Cremation care has been provided by the Unger Horner Funeral Home. Memorials can be made in Agatha's memory to Unity Hospice of Rochelle.
Rochelle News-Leader (East Rochelle, IL) - July 11, 2023
Agatha was born on July 8, 1920, to Neal Pleasant and Oma (Edwards) Pleasant, in Cambria, Illinois.
She had a very inquisitive mind and loved school; she remembers being the champion multiplier in 3rd grade! She also loved literature and poetry, passing her love of reading to many in the family. Agatha graduated from Elgin High School, in 1938, where she played basketball and was first chair in the orchestra on the viola. She shared stories of walking 2 miles through the woods to school, staying warm by the potbelly stove and riding her horse bareback. Agatha married Frank "Bud" Knaak on June 22, 1940 at the House of Hope Presbyterian Church, in Elgin, IL. Agatha worked at Sherman Hospital, in Elgin, IL. and taught Sunday School at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where she later became superintendent of Sunday School. Bud and Agatha raised their three children in Elgin and moved to Rochelle, IL, in 1991, to be closer to family. They were married 73 years before Bud passed away in 2013. Agatha was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Rochelle. She loved to read her daily devotions and would still listen to the Sunday sermons on her treasured transistor radio. "Gram" loved her family and her greatest joy was spending time with them. She lived by the motto, "Life is uncertain; eat dessert first!" It was such a gift that she was able to share so much of her life with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had a very sweet spirit with strong convictions and was loved by all who were blessed to know her. When asked on her 102nd birthday about her secret to a long life, she simply said, "Trust in the Lord and He will take care of everything."
She is survived by her twin children, daughter and son; son-in-law and daughter-in-law; daughter-in-law; sister; seven grandchildren; eleven great -grandchildren: one great-great-grandchild and many special nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Frank Knaak on August 9, 2013; son, James Knaak; stepfather, Carl Linden; brother, William Pleasant; sister-in-law, Maxine Pleasant; brother-in-law, Sonny Johnson; grandson-in-law, Erik Gilbert; great- grandsons Mark and Alexander O'Brien and special lifelong friend, Gertrude Patterson.
There will be a private service and burial for the family at Lawnridge Cemetery. Cremation care has been provided by the Unger Horner Funeral Home. Memorials can be made in Agatha's memory to Unity Hospice of Rochelle.
Rochelle News-Leader (East Rochelle, IL) - July 11, 2023
ROCHELLE — Agatha Naomi Knaak, 102, passed away peacefully at Liberty Village Manor Court, on July 7, 2023, in Rochelle, Illinois, surrounded by her loving family.
Agatha was born on July 8, 1920, to Neal Pleasant and Oma (Edwards) Pleasant, in Cambria, Illinois.
She had a very inquisitive mind and loved school; she remembers being the champion multiplier in 3rd grade! She also loved literature and poetry, passing her love of reading to many in the family. Agatha graduated from Elgin High School, in 1938, where she played basketball and was first chair in the orchestra on the viola. She shared stories of walking 2 miles through the woods to school, staying warm by the potbelly stove and riding her horse bareback. Agatha married Frank "Bud" Knaak on June 22, 1940 at the House of Hope Presbyterian Church, in Elgin, IL. Agatha worked at Sherman Hospital, in Elgin, IL. and taught Sunday School at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where she later became superintendent of Sunday School. Bud and Agatha raised their three children in Elgin and moved to Rochelle, IL, in 1991, to be closer to family. They were married 73 years before Bud passed away in 2013. Agatha was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Rochelle. She loved to read her daily devotions and would still listen to the Sunday sermons on her treasured transistor radio. "Gram" loved her family and her greatest joy was spending time with them. She lived by the motto, "Life is uncertain; eat dessert first!" It was such a gift that she was able to share so much of her life with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had a very sweet spirit with strong convictions and was loved by all who were blessed to know her. When asked on her 102nd birthday about her secret to a long life, she simply said, "Trust in the Lord and He will take care of everything."
She is survived by her twin children, daughter and son; son-in-law and daughter-in-law; daughter-in-law; sister; seven grandchildren; eleven great -grandchildren: one great-great-grandchild and many special nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Frank Knaak on August 9, 2013; son, James Knaak; stepfather, Carl Linden; brother, William Pleasant; sister-in-law, Maxine Pleasant; brother-in-law, Sonny Johnson; grandson-in-law, Erik Gilbert; great- grandsons Mark and Alexander O'Brien and special lifelong friend, Gertrude Patterson.
There will be a private service and burial for the family at Lawnridge Cemetery. Cremation care has been provided by the Unger Horner Funeral Home. Memorials can be made in Agatha's memory to Unity Hospice of Rochelle.
Rochelle News-Leader (East Rochelle, IL) - July 11, 2023
Agatha was born on July 8, 1920, to Neal Pleasant and Oma (Edwards) Pleasant, in Cambria, Illinois.
She had a very inquisitive mind and loved school; she remembers being the champion multiplier in 3rd grade! She also loved literature and poetry, passing her love of reading to many in the family. Agatha graduated from Elgin High School, in 1938, where she played basketball and was first chair in the orchestra on the viola. She shared stories of walking 2 miles through the woods to school, staying warm by the potbelly stove and riding her horse bareback. Agatha married Frank "Bud" Knaak on June 22, 1940 at the House of Hope Presbyterian Church, in Elgin, IL. Agatha worked at Sherman Hospital, in Elgin, IL. and taught Sunday School at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where she later became superintendent of Sunday School. Bud and Agatha raised their three children in Elgin and moved to Rochelle, IL, in 1991, to be closer to family. They were married 73 years before Bud passed away in 2013. Agatha was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Rochelle. She loved to read her daily devotions and would still listen to the Sunday sermons on her treasured transistor radio. "Gram" loved her family and her greatest joy was spending time with them. She lived by the motto, "Life is uncertain; eat dessert first!" It was such a gift that she was able to share so much of her life with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had a very sweet spirit with strong convictions and was loved by all who were blessed to know her. When asked on her 102nd birthday about her secret to a long life, she simply said, "Trust in the Lord and He will take care of everything."
She is survived by her twin children, daughter and son; son-in-law and daughter-in-law; daughter-in-law; sister; seven grandchildren; eleven great -grandchildren: one great-great-grandchild and many special nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Frank Knaak on August 9, 2013; son, James Knaak; stepfather, Carl Linden; brother, William Pleasant; sister-in-law, Maxine Pleasant; brother-in-law, Sonny Johnson; grandson-in-law, Erik Gilbert; great- grandsons Mark and Alexander O'Brien and special lifelong friend, Gertrude Patterson.
There will be a private service and burial for the family at Lawnridge Cemetery. Cremation care has been provided by the Unger Horner Funeral Home. Memorials can be made in Agatha's memory to Unity Hospice of Rochelle.
Rochelle News-Leader (East Rochelle, IL) - July 11, 2023
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