Patricia Ann Knuth
June 8, 1946 — October 12, 2017
Patricia Ann Knuth, 71, of Marion, Iowa died October 12, 2017, in her home surrounded by family after a long and difficult battle with pancreatic cancer. Pat was a strong, faithful Christian who fought the good fight and has now claimed her victory in the Lord Jesus Christ. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 18, 2017, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion. Cremation, as per Pat’s wishes, has taken place. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Pat’s name may be directed to the Lutheran Hour Ministries (
www.lhm.org
), or your favorite charity.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 19, 2017, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The family will also greet friends one hour before the service at the church.
Patricia was born June 8, 1946, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of Vincent and Laura (Jacobson) Wiza. She graduated from Goodrich High School in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 1964. She married David Knuth on August 6, 1966, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They moved to Cedar Rapids upon Dave’s graduation from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Pat worked at various jobs including as a legal secretary for Ruffin Nelson law firm and for almost 10 years as an administrative assistant at Rockwell Collins, leaving in 1996, to become a full time homemaker.
Pat thoroughly enjoyed cooking, and when she was in her kitchen, no one else was allowed. Pat was active in church work over the years attending numerous Bible studies, serving as head of a kitchen committee and as a member of the board of trustees. Pat took up knitting and loved making hats for newborns. She also loved doing needlework. She longed to be outdoors and often argued with Dave over who would cut the lawn, insisting she could do a better job. She thrived on pruning shrubbery, making it look just so. She loved fishing and regretted not being able to do it more often.
Pat was most proud of her two children and seven grandchildren and cherished the fact that she was able to take her entire family to Disney World in 2009. This was the first visit for all, and it turned out to become a regular vacation spot for Pat and Dave with at least 12 more trips over the past 8 years. Pat was delighted to be able to take her grandchildren back to Disney World on separate personalized trips. When Dave retired, they became snowbirds for the first time, spending the winter in Panama City Beach, Florida. Pat absolutely loved walking the white, sandy beach there and did so at least once each day. Pat was also a committed volunteer. She served at St. Luke’s as a patient visitor for several years, cheerfully distributing newspapers and books to patients, earning the respect and admiration of both patients and staff.
Survivors include her husband of 51 years, David Knuth; their son, David Jr. (Wendy) and their children, Josiah, Benjamin, Ava, Paxton and Logan of Richmond, Virginia; their daughter, Lori (Peter) Caldwell and their daughters Shaeffer and Peyton of Cedar Rapids; brothers James (Arleen) Wiza of De Pere, Wisconsin, John (Kathy) Wiza of West Bend, Wisconsin, David (Susan) Wiza of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; sister Michele (James) Dignan of Burlington, Wisconsin; brothers-in-law Allen (Patricia) Knuth of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Robert Wiegand of Arizona, Thomas Wiegand of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, sister-in-law Linda Gresbach of Waupaca, Wisconsin.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents.
Please share a memory of Pat at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 19, 2017, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The family will also greet friends one hour before the service at the church.
Patricia was born June 8, 1946, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of Vincent and Laura (Jacobson) Wiza. She graduated from Goodrich High School in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in 1964. She married David Knuth on August 6, 1966, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They moved to Cedar Rapids upon Dave’s graduation from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Pat worked at various jobs including as a legal secretary for Ruffin Nelson law firm and for almost 10 years as an administrative assistant at Rockwell Collins, leaving in 1996, to become a full time homemaker.
Pat thoroughly enjoyed cooking, and when she was in her kitchen, no one else was allowed. Pat was active in church work over the years attending numerous Bible studies, serving as head of a kitchen committee and as a member of the board of trustees. Pat took up knitting and loved making hats for newborns. She also loved doing needlework. She longed to be outdoors and often argued with Dave over who would cut the lawn, insisting she could do a better job. She thrived on pruning shrubbery, making it look just so. She loved fishing and regretted not being able to do it more often.
Pat was most proud of her two children and seven grandchildren and cherished the fact that she was able to take her entire family to Disney World in 2009. This was the first visit for all, and it turned out to become a regular vacation spot for Pat and Dave with at least 12 more trips over the past 8 years. Pat was delighted to be able to take her grandchildren back to Disney World on separate personalized trips. When Dave retired, they became snowbirds for the first time, spending the winter in Panama City Beach, Florida. Pat absolutely loved walking the white, sandy beach there and did so at least once each day. Pat was also a committed volunteer. She served at St. Luke’s as a patient visitor for several years, cheerfully distributing newspapers and books to patients, earning the respect and admiration of both patients and staff.
Survivors include her husband of 51 years, David Knuth; their son, David Jr. (Wendy) and their children, Josiah, Benjamin, Ava, Paxton and Logan of Richmond, Virginia; their daughter, Lori (Peter) Caldwell and their daughters Shaeffer and Peyton of Cedar Rapids; brothers James (Arleen) Wiza of De Pere, Wisconsin, John (Kathy) Wiza of West Bend, Wisconsin, David (Susan) Wiza of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; sister Michele (James) Dignan of Burlington, Wisconsin; brothers-in-law Allen (Patricia) Knuth of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Robert Wiegand of Arizona, Thomas Wiegand of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, sister-in-law Linda Gresbach of Waupaca, Wisconsin.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents.
Please share a memory of Pat at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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