Obituary for George N. Knight
GEORGE N. KNIGHT
George Norman Knight of Harrisburg, IL, died on August 14, 2017, surrounded by loving family.
George was born July 3, 1945, in rural Galatia, the son of the late Clifford M. and Ruby Olive (Bryant) Knight. He was educated at Galatia Schools and Southern Illinois University Carbondale and received his Master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California.
On November 7, 1981, he married Sharon Sue Rich, who survives. Also surviving are their children, Lisa Bayer and husband, John Gehner, of Athens, GA; Mark Bayer and wife, Pamela, of Charleston; Emily Knight Brown and husband, Brian Brown, of Austin, TX; and Angela Triplett and husband, Steven of Galatia. George was so proud of his nine grandchildren: Ayla, Lily, and Wyatt Gehner; Jackson, Addison, and Ashlyn Bayer; Jack Bear Brown; and Cameron and Nicholas Triplett.
After graduating from SIUC, George taught school and coached for several years in Galatia, then worked in the coal mining industry for Sahara, Amax and Arch Mineral. He also worked in corporate human resources and labor contract negotiations for Formica and James River Paper, retiring from Hanson Aggregates in 2006. While his work took him to Wyoming, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and California, in retirement he returned home to southern Illinois.
George loved to travel, read, farm, sing, Chicago Bears and Texas Longhorns football, drive on the country backroads, visit with friends and family, debate politics with his children, and love on his grandchildren. He kept his family prayerful with his forays into running, motorcycling, and bungee jumping. It is a comfort to know that he is now enjoying Heavenly pie and ice cream with his beloved twin brother Frank.
He is also survived by two sisters and brothers-in-law, Ruby Joy and Tim Bronke of Tamaroa and Maxine and Robert Dunn of Glen Carbon; a brother-in-law, Jerry Reed of Maryville, and a sister-in-law, Sally Knight of Sarasota, FL. He will be remembered fondly by his many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.
In addition to his parents, George was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Grace Anne Bayer, two sisters, Julia Faye Knight and Jo Ella Reed, and his twin brother, Frank H. Knight.
He was a lifelong member of Mt. Moriah United Methodist Church, Galatia, and was a Mason and a Shriner.
Funeral services will be 2 PM Sunday, August 27, 2017 at the J. M. Weirauch Funeral Home with Rev. Dan Masters and Rev. Jimmy Dale Lambert officiating and burial will be private. Friends may call after 5 PM Saturday, August 26, 2017 at the J.M. Weirauch Funeral Home in Harrisburg.
The family would like to thank George’s wonderful caregivers at Reflections Memory Care in Carterville and the Villas of Holly Brook in Harrisburg.
Weirauch Funeral Home in Harrisburg is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be at Mt. Moriah Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or Harrisburg First Church of God Building Fund.
Read More
George Norman Knight of Harrisburg, IL, died on August 14, 2017, surrounded by loving family.
George was born July 3, 1945, in rural Galatia, the son of the late Clifford M. and Ruby Olive (Bryant) Knight. He was educated at Galatia Schools and Southern Illinois University Carbondale and received his Master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California.
On November 7, 1981, he married Sharon Sue Rich, who survives. Also surviving are their children, Lisa Bayer and husband, John Gehner, of Athens, GA; Mark Bayer and wife, Pamela, of Charleston; Emily Knight Brown and husband, Brian Brown, of Austin, TX; and Angela Triplett and husband, Steven of Galatia. George was so proud of his nine grandchildren: Ayla, Lily, and Wyatt Gehner; Jackson, Addison, and Ashlyn Bayer; Jack Bear Brown; and Cameron and Nicholas Triplett.
After graduating from SIUC, George taught school and coached for several years in Galatia, then worked in the coal mining industry for Sahara, Amax and Arch Mineral. He also worked in corporate human resources and labor contract negotiations for Formica and James River Paper, retiring from Hanson Aggregates in 2006. While his work took him to Wyoming, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and California, in retirement he returned home to southern Illinois.
George loved to travel, read, farm, sing, Chicago Bears and Texas Longhorns football, drive on the country backroads, visit with friends and family, debate politics with his children, and love on his grandchildren. He kept his family prayerful with his forays into running, motorcycling, and bungee jumping. It is a comfort to know that he is now enjoying Heavenly pie and ice cream with his beloved twin brother Frank.
He is also survived by two sisters and brothers-in-law, Ruby Joy and Tim Bronke of Tamaroa and Maxine and Robert Dunn of Glen Carbon; a brother-in-law, Jerry Reed of Maryville, and a sister-in-law, Sally Knight of Sarasota, FL. He will be remembered fondly by his many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.
In addition to his parents, George was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Grace Anne Bayer, two sisters, Julia Faye Knight and Jo Ella Reed, and his twin brother, Frank H. Knight.
He was a lifelong member of Mt. Moriah United Methodist Church, Galatia, and was a Mason and a Shriner.
Funeral services will be 2 PM Sunday, August 27, 2017 at the J. M. Weirauch Funeral Home with Rev. Dan Masters and Rev. Jimmy Dale Lambert officiating and burial will be private. Friends may call after 5 PM Saturday, August 26, 2017 at the J.M. Weirauch Funeral Home in Harrisburg.
The family would like to thank George’s wonderful caregivers at Reflections Memory Care in Carterville and the Villas of Holly Brook in Harrisburg.
Weirauch Funeral Home in Harrisburg is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be at Mt. Moriah Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or Harrisburg First Church of God Building Fund.
To plant a tree in memory of George N. Knight, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Saturday
26
Aug
5:00 PM
- 8:00 PM
J.M. Weirauch Funeral Home
211 North Jackson St.
Harrisburg, IL 62946
Service
Sunday
27
Aug
2:00 PM
J.M. Weirauch Funeral Home
211 North Jackson St.
Harrisburg, IL 62946
Loading...