Karen Knox

Karen “I had so much fun” Knox, nee Manthei, age 81, beloved wife for 30 years to the late Charles R. “Chuck” Knox (2022). Loving mother of Kelly (Mike) Pruett, Barbara (Jay) Tucker, and Laura (Tom) Fenn. Dear step-mother of Leana (Mark) Wigboldy and Nadine (David) Rhein. Silly grandmother of Micah, Becky, Matthew, Hannah, Joe, Charlie, Michael, Amelia, Jack, Regan, Nathan, and Nicholas. Goofy great-grandmother of Elizabeth, Logan, Mia and Isaac. Key harmonizing sister of Linda (Bob) Greenwald and Susan Sauerbier. Crazy aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Karen led a wonderfully busy retired life – junkin' through garage sales, working in her garden, making batches of raspberry jam, tinkering at her sewing machine, playing bocci or pinochle, watching Jeopardy with her dog, Jack, and most of all, enjoying time with friends and family on her front deck. She loved road trips, and earlier this year she drove to North Carolina and Florida with her sisters and then decided a few months later to head out to Oregon to visit family. The exhilaration (and perhaps fear) obvious in her face as she was being whisked thousands of feet up while sitting in a ski lift to go have dinner is fantastic. You can hear her laughing in the photo.

Karen is remembered for her laughter, and she had a gift for making others laugh, too. Whether it was because she told a good dirty joke or because she put butter and salt on her hot dogs or because she was known to tell small children that Santa preferred kahlua instead of milk, she was funny (And yes, sometimes inappropriate…). Her coworkers in the mortgage industry, her bowling teammates, her neighbors, her church friends, her husband, her grandkids - really anybody who ever crossed her path, always said the same thing – she was funny. She was a kind person who knew that humor softened the edges of life’s rough patches, and she was a master at finding and celebrating the absurd in any situation.

Please join us for her Celebration of Life service on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at All Saints Lutheran Church, 13350 S. LaGrange Road, Orland Park, IL 60462. We would love to visit and share stories from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon and the service will begin at 12:00 Noon.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Karen’s name to All Saints Lutheran Church CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE DONATION .

In the spirit of her love for the absurd, ugly Christmas sweaters are welcomed at the service.

Below is a photo tribute celebrating Karen's life.



Express your thoughts and condolences at colonialchapel.com 708-532-5400