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April 8, 1935-March 1, 2024

 

Theodore Kenneth Knott, 88, died peacefully on March 1, 2024.

Born April 8,1935 to Kenneth Edward Knott and Mildred Louise Hartzog, he was raised in Niles, Michigan. He was a member of the Niles High School State Champion Football team in 1951 and upon graduation attended the University of Michigan. He transferred to Kalamazoo College where he graduated in 1957. On Sept. 7, 1957, he married Gail Kaiser who survives. He served with the Counter Intelligence Corps in the United States Army Reserve, 1958-1961.

He was a field representative for Aetna Life Insurance and an agent at the Charles A. Boyer Inc. in Manistee, Michigan from 1962-1967 and President from 1967-1981.

Ted served as a former director at Security National Bank, Manistee and founded Four Point Travel, Inc., International Management Company.

Ted discovered a passion for sailing while living in Manistee. He participated in numerous races including The Boyer Cup, the Chicago Mackinac, the Bayview Mackinac Boat Race, and the Newport Bermuda Race. He cherished summers with his family on the Great Lakes skippering The VII Knots.

He was the former president and director First Ohio Finance Corporation, Celina, Ohio. President and founder of Brokers Placement Inc., Lima, Ohio. He was also a former member of Lloyd’s of London and an executive vice president of Ohio Reins. Corporation.

Ted was a Rotary past president and a Paul Harris Fellow and a board member of the Lima Symphony Orchestra. He and Gail were members of Immanuel Lutheran Church.

He is survived by a brother Richard (Ann) Knott of Niles, Michigan; daughter Kimberly (Stephen) Shanahan Lima, Ohio; daughter Leslie Knott (Jacob Snyder) West Bloomfield, Michigan; Heather (Gregg) Soster Columbus, Ohio; and son Kurt (Mary) Knott, Lima, Ohio. His son, Brett preceded him in death in 2002. Additional survivors include grandchildren Noel Shanahan, Celeste Shanahan, Lindsay Knott, Ashley Knott Winch, Hilary Wilson Matusiak, Audrey Wilson McLaughlin, A. Cameron Soster, Adam Knott, Spencer Knott and great-grandchildren Gwendolyn Soster and Evelyn Matusiak. He will also be missed by loving brothers- and sisters-in-law, nephews, and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be directed to the Lima Symphony Orchestra, https://www.limasymphony.com.

The family will hold a private service and the burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, Michigan.

Local arrangements are under the direction of Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Shawnee Chapel.