James Knoll

James Michael Knoll, 80, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on March 18, 2007 at the home of his son in Whitefish.

He was born on Aug. 6, 1926, in Tacoma, Wash., the son of Walter and Esther (Hart) Knoll.

He served in the U.S. Army from Dec. 9, 1944 until March 1946, during which he was involved in the Philippine liberation and the occupation of Japan.

After his service discharge, he returned to Chehalis, Wash., where he met and married Lorraine King in June 1948. He resumed his job as an auto mechanic for the next 32 years in the Chehalis area, where he enjoyed carpentry and, most of all, teaching his family the love of music, playing piano and guitar as well as worshiping the Lord.

James was loved by his family and will always be remembered as a great example and father. He will be missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, LaVaun; two brothers, Kenneth and Russell; and two grandsons, Caleb and Matthew.

He is survived by his wife, Lorraine Knoll, of Kalispell; sons Michael Knoll and wife Gail, of Whitefish, Lawrence Knoll and wife Dana, of Kalispell, Tim Knoll and wife Kay, of Kalispell, Christopher Knoll and wife Clariece, of Centralia, Wash., and Nathan Knoll and wife Brenda, of Marion; daughters Inis Baker and husband Tom, of Lafayette, Ind., Joan Pedersen and husband Wayne, of Centralia, Mary Husted and husband Paul, of Kalispell, Mamie Goodwin and husband Dennis, and Judy Roose, both of Whitefish,; brother Richard Knoll, of Entiat, Wash.; a sister, Donna Kitchen, of Euphrata, Wash.; 33 grandchildren; 47 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial services for James will be held Thursday, March 22, 2007 (today) at 11 a.m. at the Cornerstone Community Church (formerly Northridge Heights Church of God), 1970 U.S. Highway 93 North, with Pastors Larry Lautaret and Mark Foreman officiating.