Knowles, Richard E.

Richard E. Knowles

Richard “Dick” Edward Knowles, 76, passed away at home on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011. Mass of Christian Burial will be held, with military honors, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at St. Christopher's Catholic Church in Nisswa, Minn., with Father George Zeck officiating. Visitation will be held an hour before services at the church. A luncheon will be held after the services at the church. Interment will be at a later date at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.

He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Aug. 28, 1935, to Edward “Barney” and Helen (Hofferd) Knowles. He graduated from Immaculate Conception School in Cedar Rapids in 1953. Following graduation, Dick entered the Marines where he served at Camp Lajeune and in communications-electronics. Following discharge, he attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids on a basketball/baseball scholarship where he won awards in both sports. Following graduation from college he worked for Smith, Kline, and French pharmaceuticals where he went from sales representative to professional hospital sales representative and consultant at the University of Iowa. Over the 36 years he was with the company he was the top sales person for his last 10 years.

Awards received were Director's Award (recognition of the top sales person in the company) and Platinum Tier Awards (top regional award). This allowed Nancy, his wife, and him many opportunities to travel the globe. Upon retiring in 1999, Dick and Nancy turned their vacation cabin into their dream house on Gull Lake.

His interests in sports included bowling, golf, slow-pitch softball, fishing, and pheasant hunting. Favorite teams included the Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Cardinals, and the University of Iowa Hawkeyes. Four years and many hours were spent as commander of the Nisswa American Legion Billie Brown Post in Nisswa, Minn. He was also active in the Nisswa Lions.

Dick is survived by his wife of 52 years, Nancy (Nichols), children, John (Mindy), Matthew (Lauren) and Kristin; grandchildren, AJ, Allison Knowles of Scott Air Force and Nate, Colin and William of Batavia, Ill.; and his sister, Sue Sakulin, whereabouts unknown.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother, John.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made out to a charity of choice.

Arrangements by Nelson-Doran Funeral Home and Crematory in Brainerd, Minn.

Published Oct. 21, 2011, in The Gazette