Dr. Thomas ("Tom") K. Knoke

Dr. Thomas ("Tom") K. Knoke was born May 28, 1935 in Deshler, Ohio, to Carl and Welma (Shoemaker) Knoke, the second of three children (John, Tom, Nan).  Tom lived in many different locations during his life, including Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Alabama, Iowa, and Illinois. He was the valedictorian of the graduating class of Deshler High School in 1953, after which he attended Wooster College in Wooster, OH, where he majored in chemistry.  Tom then attended the University of Wisconsin Madison while simultaneously working as an orderly at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison and conducting experimental research in the Entomology Department lab at the University of Wisconsin.   After medical school, Tom completed a one-year internship at Rockford Memorial Hospital, Rockford, Illinois.  He then entered the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort McPherson in Atlanta, Georgia, where he provided obstetrical and gynecological care primarily to female relatives of military personnel who lived in the area. Captain Knoke was offered a medical career in the military but chose instead to pursue a career in private practice.  He completed a four-year residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Milwaukee County Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin during which time he was named Chief Resident. Tom then practiced 20 years in Clinton, Iowa, where he became a partner at Medical Associates and had a very busy OB/Gyn practice for the next 20 years.  Upon leaving Medical Associates, Tom spent a year in Grand Bay, Alabama, honing his carpentry, tiling, painting, and general handyman skills while making improvements to property that had been built by his father. He then returned to the Midwest to accept a position as Director of Gynecology Services at Northern Illinois University Student Health Center, DeKalb, Illinois, where he worked for 10 years until his retirement in 1999.

Tom married Jacqueline Looze in 1961 and they raised three daughters. Tom later married Laurie Myhre at Eagle Point Park in Clinton, Iowa, in July of 1989.  Tom is survived by his beloved wife Laurie Knoke, his daughters Laurie (Ben) Van Buskirk, Lisa (Marc) Behrens, Amy (Mark) Carson, and stepdaughters Kimberly (Gabriel) Barrios, and Kelsea (Andy) Hoskins, 11 grandchildren – Cassandra, Kyle, Ryan, Katelyn, Catherine, Jade, Mia, Benjamin, Tobias, Hayden, and Hudson; one great grandchild - Masen; a sister Nan (Ken) Sliter;  a sister-in-law Dee Knoke; and several nieces and nephews.   Tom was preceded in death by his parents and his brother John.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 30 from 9 – 11 AM at Westminster Presbyterian Church, DeKalb, Illinois, followed by a funeral service at 11 AM to be officiated by Pastor Blake Richter and Reverend Bruce Williams.  Graveside burial will be at Fairview Park Cemetery on DeKalb on Saturday, December 30 at 1:45 PM. Military honors will be provided by the DeKalb American Legion Post 66.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Indian School for Children in Chamberlain, South Dakota or Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago, Illinois - or to the family, who will distribute donations to Tom's favorite charities that feed the hungry or care for children. Arrangements were entrusted to Finch Funeral Home, 310 Oak Street, DeKalb, Illinois 60115.  815-758-3841.