1910
Mr
2007
Mr John Knoell
September 10, 1910 — December 22, 2007
John Knoell, 97, of Mission, Kansas, passed away December 22, 2007, at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
John was born September 10, 1910, in Philadelphia, PA. He was the son of Marie K. and William F. Knoell. He married Lillian Woodley on January 25, 1939. She predeceased him. They lived a love-filled, joyous, Christian life together for 61 wonderful years, and his wife and two daughters were the love of his life.
John began a career in aviation with Eastern Airlines. He became a pioneer air traffic controller with the CAA, and later the FAA, where he helped open the Air Traffic Control Center at St. Louis?s Lambert Field. He was chief controller, chief of air space, and was also involved in the selection and approval of KCI airport. John served in the US Naval Reserve during WWII, but his critical job skill of training new air traffic controllers prevented his active duty service. He was a pioneer advocate for training women controllers. He retired from the FAA in 1969 after 31 faithful years of service.
John was a member of Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, where he attended church every Sunday. He was a former member of St. Andrew?s Episcopal Church where he worshiped for 42 years, was a member of the Vestry, was a layreader and Eucharistic minister, was head usher, and was a sponsor of the Youth Group. He was a trained Stephen?s Minister, attended Cursillo, and was an active participant in a weekly prayer group and Bible Study.
John served on the City Council in Mission, Kansas for 12 years. His leadership and advocacy led to the creation of 2 new parks in Mission. He also served as president of his homes? association and several school PTA?s. John was a past gold honor president of the Shawnee Mission Sertoma Club where he was a life member. He was a past president of the German American Citizen?s Association, and was a member of the OX5 Club.
For 22 years, John and his wife lovingly sponsored international students who attended the US Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. John and Lillian were each awarded and honored with the German Silver Cross, Germany?s highest civilian award, by the Federal Republic of Germany for their devoted sponsorship. They also sponsored many German liaison officers at Ft. Leavenworth. Together, they forged life-long friendships with officers and their families around the world, while they also modeled and shared American life with these international visitors.
John loved life and rejoiced in God?s creation. He was blessed with good health, an active retirement, and many world travels. He lived his faith, and had a loving heart for everyone he knew.
John is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Nancy K. and Allan B. Harvin, Goldsboro, North Carolina, and Donna L. Knoell and Jim Royer, Prairie Village, Kansas. He also leaves three grandchildren, Allan Slade Harvin and his wife Tammy, Glenn Knoell Harvin and his wife Beth, and Nancy Marie Harvin, and three great grandchildren, Clara Elizabeth Harvin, Glenn Knoell Harvin, Jr., and Evie Mae Harvin.
John leaves a cherished legacy of love, kindness, community service and stalwart, Christian living. He will be dearly missed by his daughters and their families and his many friends around the world, but he has gone to live a life of glory with the Lord, who he loved and worshiped.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM Thursday, December 27th, at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 W. 13th (13th & Broadway), Kansas City, Missouri 64105. Burial will follow the services at Johnson County Memorial Gardens. Friends may call 3-6:00 PM Wednesday, December 26th at D.W. Newcomer?s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of John to the Memorial Fund at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral or to the Salvation Army.
John was born September 10, 1910, in Philadelphia, PA. He was the son of Marie K. and William F. Knoell. He married Lillian Woodley on January 25, 1939. She predeceased him. They lived a love-filled, joyous, Christian life together for 61 wonderful years, and his wife and two daughters were the love of his life.
John began a career in aviation with Eastern Airlines. He became a pioneer air traffic controller with the CAA, and later the FAA, where he helped open the Air Traffic Control Center at St. Louis?s Lambert Field. He was chief controller, chief of air space, and was also involved in the selection and approval of KCI airport. John served in the US Naval Reserve during WWII, but his critical job skill of training new air traffic controllers prevented his active duty service. He was a pioneer advocate for training women controllers. He retired from the FAA in 1969 after 31 faithful years of service.
John was a member of Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, where he attended church every Sunday. He was a former member of St. Andrew?s Episcopal Church where he worshiped for 42 years, was a member of the Vestry, was a layreader and Eucharistic minister, was head usher, and was a sponsor of the Youth Group. He was a trained Stephen?s Minister, attended Cursillo, and was an active participant in a weekly prayer group and Bible Study.
John served on the City Council in Mission, Kansas for 12 years. His leadership and advocacy led to the creation of 2 new parks in Mission. He also served as president of his homes? association and several school PTA?s. John was a past gold honor president of the Shawnee Mission Sertoma Club where he was a life member. He was a past president of the German American Citizen?s Association, and was a member of the OX5 Club.
For 22 years, John and his wife lovingly sponsored international students who attended the US Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. John and Lillian were each awarded and honored with the German Silver Cross, Germany?s highest civilian award, by the Federal Republic of Germany for their devoted sponsorship. They also sponsored many German liaison officers at Ft. Leavenworth. Together, they forged life-long friendships with officers and their families around the world, while they also modeled and shared American life with these international visitors.
John loved life and rejoiced in God?s creation. He was blessed with good health, an active retirement, and many world travels. He lived his faith, and had a loving heart for everyone he knew.
John is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Nancy K. and Allan B. Harvin, Goldsboro, North Carolina, and Donna L. Knoell and Jim Royer, Prairie Village, Kansas. He also leaves three grandchildren, Allan Slade Harvin and his wife Tammy, Glenn Knoell Harvin and his wife Beth, and Nancy Marie Harvin, and three great grandchildren, Clara Elizabeth Harvin, Glenn Knoell Harvin, Jr., and Evie Mae Harvin.
John leaves a cherished legacy of love, kindness, community service and stalwart, Christian living. He will be dearly missed by his daughters and their families and his many friends around the world, but he has gone to live a life of glory with the Lord, who he loved and worshiped.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM Thursday, December 27th, at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 W. 13th (13th & Broadway), Kansas City, Missouri 64105. Burial will follow the services at Johnson County Memorial Gardens. Friends may call 3-6:00 PM Wednesday, December 26th at D.W. Newcomer?s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of John to the Memorial Fund at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral or to the Salvation Army.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mr John Knoell, please visit our flower store.