Obituary of Donald Knechtel

KNECHTEL, Donald Frederick - Don completed his circle of life on March 9th , 2014 in his 91st year. He is survived by his wife Kate, and the three children of his first wife Marnie [nee Potts, 1998] - Robert (Mary Lou), Brian (Debbie) and James (Tina); his grandchildren Nathan (Monica) and Rebecca (Cody), Julie (John Reid) and Holly (Mario Patitucci), and his great-grandchildren Sarah Knechtel, Lindsey and Derek Reid, and Mia and Jacob Patitucci. Don is predeceased by his sister Doreen (Howard Tackaberry), and survived by his siblings Fred (Betty), Jean (Al Goodwin) and Joyce (Don White). He will be missed by his dear friend Brenda Rebbeck, and his friends and staff at Charlotte Villa. Don owned and operated Knechtel Brothers, where he gave many young people their first working experience making wood garage doors and picnic tables. He enjoyed retirement from his home in St. Williams, which overlooked the Long Point World Biosphere marsh. Don's passion for flying, during the war, led him to getting his pilot's license so he could fly his Cessna, and spent many hours sailing on Lake Erie. He felt he had a full life. Friends will be received at the Beckett-Glaves Family Funeral Centre, on Thursday, March 13th from 6 - 8, and on Friday from 1 - 2 p.m. A Memorial Service will follow, in the chapel, on Friday, March 14th at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to Norfolk General Hospital, Simcoe or the Grand River Chorus, 201 - 245 King George Rd, Brantford, ON N3R 7N7 would be appreciated. A tree will be planted in memory of Don in the Beckett-Glaves Memorial Forest.