Knaak, Samuel A. (1894-1961)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Dec 28 p. 3

Birth date: 1894 May 20

text of obituary:

WELL-KNOWN BUILDING CONTRACTOR OF REEDLEY CALLED AWAY IN DEATH

Reedley, Calif. — Samuel A. Knaak, 67, well-known Reedley farmer and builder, died here Dec. 18 several days after suffering a stroke of paralysis.

An active member of the Reedley M. B. Church, he had supervised construction of the local church and the buildings of the Pacific College and Immanuel Academy.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Jan 4 p. 11

text of obituary:

SAMUEL A. KNAAK

Samuel A. Knaak, our loving husband and father, son of George and Katherina Duerksen Knaak, was born on May 20, 1894, near Hillsboro, Kansas. Here he spent his childhood days. As a young lad he moved with his parents to Caddo County, Oklahoma, where they again made their home on a farm.

Our father felt the need of spiritual life and united with the Methodist Church of Eakley, Okla. Since his parents were poor, father left at the age of 17 for California where he worked on a farm for his uncle and aunt.

On Nov. 16, 1916, he was united in holy matrimony with Alma Kliewer. They made their home on a farm near Reedley, Calif. This marriage, which lasted 45 years, one month and two days, was blessed with six children, four sons and two daughters.

During the Erickson revival meetings, our father had a new experience with the Lord, and Jesus Christ became very real to him as his personal Savior. Following this he was baptized and united with the Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church.

In this church he served in various important capacities until his passing. For a number of years he served as usher, as a member of the Board of Trustees, and was still a member of the church council at the time of his death. He was also chairman of the church building committee and a member of the executive committee of the church. He was serving as treasurer on the Conference Board of the Home for the Aged.

God had endowed our father with a special talent of being able to supervise material things in behalf of the kingdom of God. He supervised the building of the large Reedley M. B. Church, the Pacific College buildings, and Immanuel Academy buildings.

Our father was a man who has helped many people by advising them on material things in the light of the Word of God. He was always willing to help those who were in need. We knew him as a father who led us in our daily devotions, a father who prayed with us out in the field while we were at work, and who taught us early to love the Lord and the house of God.

He was in good health and enjoyed his daily work, participating in church activities to the very last. Friday night, Dec. 15, he was visiting with others in the home of one of the church deacons. After he had joined in heartily singing one of the hymns of Zion he suffered a stroke. He was immediately taken to the hospital where he was given the best of care, but the Lord in His gracious wisdom saw fit to call him home to glory. He left this world Monday afternoon, Dec. 18, 1961, reaching the age of 67 years, six months and 28 days.

He leaves to mourn his wife, Mrs. Alma Knaak of Reedley, two sons, Richard and Harvey of Reedley; two daughters, Marjorie, Mrs. Herb Nickel of Reedley, and Barbara, Mrs. Milton Janzen of Reedley; two sons-in-law; two daughters-in-law; 13 grandchildren; two brothers, Alvin and Herb of Pittsburg, Calif.; three sisters, Erna, Mrs. John Holly of Reedley, Hertha, Mrs. Walter Martin of Long Beach, and Opal, Mrs. Loren Forrest of Fresno; two uncles, John Duerksen of Fairview, Okla. and Henry Duerksen of Shafter; eight brothers-in-law and seven sisters-in-law. — The Family.