Alice Martha Clarkens Knaack, 82, of Largo, FL, passed away with her two daughters and son-in-law at her side on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at Suncoast Hospice North Pinellas Care Center in Palm Harbor, FL.
Alice was born on February 1, 1932 to William Clarkens and Theresa Betz Clarkens in Northfield Township, IL. She graduated from Morton Grove High School in 1949. She worked as a bookkeeper and then stayed at home with her two daughters until returning to work as a waitress at The Pantry in Crystal Lake, IL. Subsequently she worked as Restaurant Manager of Martinetti’s Coffee Shop and then was part owner and manager of The Pantry Restaurant. After leaving The Pantry, she worked as financial secretary at First United Methodist Church and then as Bookkeeper at DynaCom, both in Crystal Lake, IL.
Alice married Norman L. Knaack, of Crystal Lake, IL on November 22, 1972. They both loved to golf. Alice and her best friend, Joyce Bacon, instituted a Laverne and Shirley Annual Golf Outing at Crystal Woods Golf Course in Woodstock, IL. She was active at Crystal Woods in their Women’s Golf League raising money for cancer care and designing many fun events.
Alice and Norm relocated to Palm Hill Country Club in Largo in 2000 where Alice loved to golf (Hooray for two hole-in-ones!!). She was a member of the Women’s Golf League, the Red Hats, the Calcutta Cuties, and the team that staffed Channel 96. She was a block captain and loved to keep track of what was happening in the neighborhood while sitting on her front porch.
She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Norman L. Knaack; her two daughters, Connie Bonner of Clearwater, FL and Donna K. (Dirk) Howell of McHenry, IL; four sisters: Ruth Nick of McHenry, IL, Irene (Clyde) Canovi of Gurney, IL, Shirley Glod of Grayslake, IL, and Bernice Winstead of Danville, IL; brother, William Clarkens of Skokie, IL; two grandchildren: Jessica (Nicholas, Sr.) Turk of Twin Lakes, WI and Scott Strudeman of McHenry, IL; and two great grandsons, Nicholas Turk, Jr and Zachery Strudeman; three step-sons, Kurt (Lynn), Tom and Joe (Michelle) Knaack, and their families all in northern Illinois; and numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be a service to celebrate her life at Palm Hill Country Club Recreation Center, North, on Monday, April 28 at 10am. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Suncoast Hospice Foundation, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd, Clearwater, Florida, 33760. http://thehospice.org.
Please sign the guestbook below.
Donna,
What a great way to honor your mom and tell her story – thank you for sharing these memories! She sure led a full life!
Kindest Regards,
Jason
Many blessings to your entire family. A beautifully-written obituary.
Connie and Donna, my prayers are with you and your entire family during this time of mourning.
Sincerely,
Bonnie
So glad that you all were able to be with her in her final days. She was blessed to have such caring daughters and son-in-law. You are in my prayers.
Dear Connie,
Thank you for the loving care you showered upon your Mother, especially during her time here in Florida. You and your family continue to be lifted up in my prayers.
Sincerely,
Faith
(a colleauge from the Pastoral Care department at Morton Plant Mease Healthcare, Clearwater, FL.)
I’ll miss talking with your mother and learning about what had happened in Palm Hill over the years. Alice loved to talk about her daughters and what success they had achieved. Her front porch was the land mark in the Forest and where many people stopped to talk. She will be dearly missed.
Prayers with you all,
SamFranCisco
We have known Alice for over 10 years in Palm Hill – golfed together and Red Hats also. Sympathy to the family and we will see you at the memorial service Monday morning.
Dottie Symmes sends her sympathy to the family also.
Fond memories of Alice during our Red Hat Days. She will be greatly missed by all her friends here at Palm Hill. Condolences to her family.
Dear Donna & Connie: Please accept our deepest sympathies on the loss of your mother. We knew Alice only through Palm Hill and mostly from the golf leagues. She served in many capacities for the Ladies league and lastly as President. She spoke often of her two daughter and of the many great times they had together. She will be sorely missed.
My deepest sympathy’s to Alice’s loved ones. I miss our chats every morning when I put the paper on her steps. She was a great lady and will be missed by all in Palm Hill.
God’s Peace
Fran and Al Stutzka
Sympathy and prayers for the family, Alice was a great friend and fellow golfer.
Connie and Donna,
sure sorry to hear about your mom. She was so much fun whenever we visited! Great memories in your writing – I had frog legs at her place for the first time! Love to you, Lis
My condolences. To Alice’s family. She was our Queen Mother in our Red Hat Group andi was involved in all parts of our golf games. She will be missed
My condolences. To Alice’s family. She was our Queen Mother in our Red Hat Group andi was involved in all parts of our golf games. She will be missed
Our thoughts and prayers are with Alice’s family at this sad time. I always enjoyed golfing with her, she always had a smile. May she rest in peace.
Mac and I are sorry we will not be able to attend the service for Alice. Mac is having eye surgery Monday morning. We do miss her and enjoyed playing golf with her. She will be missed by many, many people at Palm Hill.
We were sorry to hear of Alice’s passing.She will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with her Family.
WE were so sorry to hear of the passing of Alice Knaack. WE always saw her sitting in front of her home as we had our usual ride around Palm Hill North. This was Ray’s only pleasure as he has failing health too. Our sincere condolences to the family Ray & Alice LEClair
So sorry to hear of Alice’s passing. She was one of my block captains and a very good one. We shall miss her. Our sincerest sympathy to all of her family.
Sending prayers for family and friends grieving Ms. Alice’s death… I got to know a bit about Ms. Alice through the loving and faithful care from her daughters Connie and Donna.
We send our thoughts and prayers to your family during this difficult time of mourning and remembrance. I will never forget your mom, the fun times we had at your house, and visiting The Pantry.
My prayers are with you at this time of intense grieving. I trust that you will find time and space to mourn the passing on of your mom whilst taking care of your stepfather.
Connie, I love this picture of your mom! I know that she must have been so proud of you and appreciative of your care and love. May you know God’s peace in this time of sorrow. Connie Schmucker on behalf of myself and Bishop Schaefer and staff.