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- [S8] Information from an informant - Auskunft eines Informanten - Information d'un informateur.
Proposed Change: John Henry Knake (I19656)
Tree: Südpfalz / Southern Palatinate
Link: http://www.birkenhoerdt.net/getperson.php?personID=I19656&tree=Suedpfalz
Description: Burial: Gulf of Mexico
Found John here; wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=knaketodd21808&id=I12
Mariner\'s Knoll Genealogy USA
- [S927] Obituary.
The following memorial was written about Jack and read at his Memorial Mass at St. Bernard Church, Pittsburgh, PA.
On behalf of my beloved family, I'd like to thank all of you for being with us today, for joining your prayers with ours, and remembering beautiful memories of Jack.
Jack, you touched so many lives, inviting us into your joy of life's adventures, your acceptance of all people, your honest love, and your unforgettable smile. You searched for only beauty and love - in life, in people, and in nature.
And, although you left us in body as a young man, you lived deeply every day of your life. May your peaceful presence embrace us and touch us with the fullness of your life and your love. Jack, you truly were the son of our Mom and Dad, emanating their spirit in every moment. You lived by Dad's philosophy - always trust in yourself, be honest with yourself and others, and do the best you can. Jack, you lived as Mom lives, finding your joy in giving joy to others.
We don't know if you ever read this poem that's been resting on the window sill in Mom and Dad's house for years. But it flows with the spirit of you and Mom. It's called - "Let Me Give."
I do not know how long I'll live,
But while I live, Lord, let me give,
Some comfort to someone in need,
By smile or nod - kind word or deed,
And let me do what e'er I can,
To ease things for my fellow man,
I want naught but to do my part,
To lift a tired or weary heart,
To change folks' frowns to smiles again,
Then I will not have lived in vain,
And I'll not care how long I live,
If I can give - and give - and give.
Taking you along Jack's search for beauty in life . . . we begin with memories of Jack as a child. One of Mom's memories was . . . every time she would correct him, little Jackie would turn and smile, as if to say, "OK, Mom, I'll accept that."
We remember trying to feed Jackie, and him laughing so much that it was lucky he ate anything at all.
We remember during the grade school and high school years, the vision of Jack and his lifelong friend, Emery, searching for their next fun adventure - with a mixture of laughter and philosophical solutions to the world's problems.
We remember Jack and Jim, coming home from school and going to work at the apartment building with Dad. Mom and the girls would wait for our men to come home for dinner, hoping they would shower before they sat down.
We remember his college days, when Jack's belief in peace came out most actively. Jack's proof of his peace-loving nature was when he received his acceptance of his conscientious objector status to war..
We remember Jim and Jack playing hide and seek in the basement, with all the nieces and nephews. One time, Jack hid one of the kids in Grandma's new dryer and broke it - in fact, it's not working well even to this day.
We remember Jack going to visit the Pavlics on his motorcycle and taking Grandma for a ride - helmet and all.
We remember our Harrisburg couple - Jack and Vicki - their beautiful, untraditional wedding - our little farmers, at home with their animal menagerie, from their Samoyed dogs, Stach and Icy, to their cows, Ham and Burger.
We remember our beloved Jack marching against the use of nuclear power after the Three Mile Island incident affected their lives so dramatically.
We can still see their little family leaving Pennsylvania on their six-month journey across the country, with Jack and Vicki in the front seats, Stach and Icy in the back seats hanging out the car windows, with the large baggage carrier strapped on the top - which left a permanent dent in the roof of their little red car.
In Naples, we knew and loved Jack, the loving husband, brother, and nephew, the builder of his and Vicki's beautiful wood home, the plumber, the scuba diver, the fisherman who would get up early in the morning to go fishing before going to work - and he was a good fisherman, both from his boat which he loved, and standing chest high in the water at his favorite New Pass Beach, throwing his nets out, with Vicki wading behind him and their dogs barking and running up and down on the sand.
We remember the birthday cards he sent to us - he was a bit late sometimes; nevertheless, his card was something to look forward to because he always wrote a personal note about himself and Vicki, the dogs or the latest fish he caught, and always signed - "Peace and Love."
His newest earthly adventure of starting his own plumbing/contracting business was transformed instead to a new heavenly adventure with God. As Jesus welcomed Jack into His arms, Jack smiled and angelic smile. Jesus thanked Jack for carrying His message of peace and love to all people, regardless of race, creed, age, or any other human difference, and for sharing his life of joy with all who were touched by Jack's smile.
Jack, in turn, thanked Jesus for the free spirit he'd been given and the ability to travel at will to visit his family, relatives, and friends, and to continue sharing his warm touch of peace and love.
Thank you, Jack for the life you so generously shared with us. You have now purified your earthly peace and externalized your love. In your absolute completeness, help us, the living, to work towards that peace and to take up life again as you would want us to do.
We do know that you would want us to release our sadness, and, like you, live the rest of our days by your example of peace and love within and among ourselves, for we are all God's lent children.
Part of our sadness, Jack, is that we had not time for good-byes, no time to hold you tightly, to say, "I love you." Please be ready to welcome us with your warm embrace when we approach Heaven's gate, ready to share in your heavenly peace and joy.
Dear Jack - from all of us - our peace and our love to you. Thank you and God Bless.
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1949 - 1989 (39 years)