By Staff
Kenneth Knauf, 70, of Niles-Buchanan Road, Niles, died at 8:28 a.m. Tuesday, June 3, 2008, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles, unexpectedly, but of natural causes.
Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Kyle Gardner of Saint John's United Church of Christ, Niles, officiating.
The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
He was born on Dec. 3, 1937, in Niles, to Fredrick Roy George and Iva Mildred (Sloop) Knauf. He lived in Niles most of his life.
Knauf graduated from Niles High School and earned his bachelors and masters degrees from Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant. Throughout his student career, he participated in academic honors, service and social organizations and athletics, especially wrestling.
As a teacher, he was employed by Bentley High School, Flint and Traverse City High School, teaching biology and history. He continued his interest in athletics, coaching wrestling and football.
He came back to Niles to work for Kool-O-Matic, where he served as vice-president.
Knauf was the well-known owner and operator of the Dairy Queens in Niles since 1982. He was also a past president of the Michigan Dairy Queen Operators' Association.
He has been a member of the Four Flags Area Camber of Commerce for 14 years and was a past president of the Niles Community Federal Credit Union. He was a member of the B.P.O. of Niles Elks No. 1322 and a long-time member of the Central Michigan University Alumni Association.
He 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, 1961, in Bay City, he married the former Sandra L. Shaheen, who survives.
Also surviving are their daughter, Kari (Michael) Reed of Niles; grandchildren, Nicholas, Nichole and Michael II; his sister, Judy Tennison of Simpsonville, S.C. and Sandra's brothers 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, Shari Neuman.
Ken and Sandra had been caring for his father, Fred, who died just two weeks ago. He was also preceded in death by his mother, Iva in 1998 and by three sisters, Phyllis Knauf, who died in 2002; Dolores Stevenson, who died in 1957 and Iva Jean Knauf, who died in infancy.
Memorials may be made to Saint John's United Church of Christ, or the Niles Elks Lodge.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.