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Lavoie Knauf Obituary
KATHLEEN MARIE KNAUF LAVOIE
December 8, 1929 – July 3, 2024
Prescott Valley – Kathleen (Kay) Knauf Lavoie, age 94, passed away on July 3, 2024, in Prescott Valley, AZ. Kay was born in Oshkosh, WI, on December 8, 1929, to John and Margaret (Carey) Kadletz. The family soon moved to Shawano, WI, where Kay went to Sacred Heart Elementary and Shawano High School. She enjoyed summers at the family cottage on Shawano Lake, especially with her sister, Maureen (Mickey) Lunney and cousins, Barbara (Schmidt) Grishaber and Anne (Carey) Ibe. In 1951, Kay graduated from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, WI, where she majored in chemistry, with a minor in biology, and then went on to intern at St Mary's Hospital School of Medical Technology. Kay met James Knauf of Sheboygan, WI, in 1949 on a blind date and they married in 1952. Kay and Jim resided in Wausau, WI, and had three children, Thomas, Margaret, and Michael. The family moved to Marquette, MI, in 1959 and to Green Bay, WI, in 1967, where they stayed until 1976. In Green Bay, they were blessed with a daughter, Karen.
Kay enjoyed being a proud Green Bay Packer and Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan, an active participant with Resurrection Church, and taught Montessori school, as well as medical terminology at the local technical college. In 1976, Jim retired and Kay, Mike, and Karen moved to Modesto, CA, where Kay obtained her CA teaching credential. Until her retirement, she taught K-6, but especially enjoyed teaching ESL and bilingual Kindergarten. After her retirement in 1992, Jim and Kay moved to Bakersfield, CA, to be near their daughter, Maggie and family. Kay had a genuine devotion to her Catholic faith and always enjoyed helping people, first in hospital labs, in parish work, in teaching, and in her retirement homes. She was an avid walker, traveler, bridge player, reader, and volunteered actively in her grandchildren's classrooms. In 2009, years after Jim's death, Kay moved to Redwood City, CA, for cooler climate and to be near son, Mike. There she met her second husband, Joseph Lavoie, and they were married in 2011. Kay and Joe enjoyed many years of dancing and cruising. Kay and Joe moved back to Bakersfield in 2013, to be near family once again. In 2023, Kay moved to Prescott Valley, AZ, where daughter Maggie resides.
Kay is survived by her children, Thomas (Betsy) Knauf of Salisbury, NC, Margaret (Alan) Schultz of Prescott Valley, AZ, Michael (Pam) Knauf of Green Bay, WI, and Karen (Kevin) Kracht of Cedar Park, TX; grandchildren, Christopher (Amy) Schultz, Taylor (Maribeth) Knauf, Eric (Ari) Schultz, Mathew Knauf, Jessica (Jon) Bairam, Theodore (Stephanie Jordan) Knauf, Sarah Schultz, Anne (Brett Ubl) Knauf, Roger Knauf, and James Kracht; step grandchildren Michelle (Jason) Dahlke and Matt Williquette; great-grandchildren: Natalia, Aidan, Lily, Joey, Patrick, Maddox, Ethan, Connor, Ellie, Clara, Gregory, and Ryder; step great-grandchildren Chase, Aubree, Emmett, and Cameron. Jim Lunney and all of her Lunney nephews and niece were very special to her, as well as the Lavoie children.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Margaret and John Kadletz, her sister, Maureen (Mickey) Lunney, first husband, James Knauf (2001), and second husband, Joseph Lavoie (2019).
Kay would like to be remembered as someone who enjoyed life to the fullest, in relationships, religious practices, health, and exercise. Her words of wisdom are, "Keep communication open at all costs, and pray a lot." She is also remembered for her creative use of social media as well as prolific texting.
Mass of Christian burial will take place on October 18, 2024, in Bakersfield, CA, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church (10:00 am) with internment following at Greenlawn Southwest Cemetery (11:30 am).
The family is very grateful to The Landings of Prescott Valley and Arizona Life Hospice for their kind, compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers please donate to The National Catholic Broadcasting Council at https://dailytvmass.com or Catholic Charities at https://donate.catholiccharitiesusa.org.
www.bakersfield.com/obits
December 8, 1929 – July 3, 2024
Prescott Valley – Kathleen (Kay) Knauf Lavoie, age 94, passed away on July 3, 2024, in Prescott Valley, AZ. Kay was born in Oshkosh, WI, on December 8, 1929, to John and Margaret (Carey) Kadletz. The family soon moved to Shawano, WI, where Kay went to Sacred Heart Elementary and Shawano High School. She enjoyed summers at the family cottage on Shawano Lake, especially with her sister, Maureen (Mickey) Lunney and cousins, Barbara (Schmidt) Grishaber and Anne (Carey) Ibe. In 1951, Kay graduated from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, WI, where she majored in chemistry, with a minor in biology, and then went on to intern at St Mary's Hospital School of Medical Technology. Kay met James Knauf of Sheboygan, WI, in 1949 on a blind date and they married in 1952. Kay and Jim resided in Wausau, WI, and had three children, Thomas, Margaret, and Michael. The family moved to Marquette, MI, in 1959 and to Green Bay, WI, in 1967, where they stayed until 1976. In Green Bay, they were blessed with a daughter, Karen.
Kay enjoyed being a proud Green Bay Packer and Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan, an active participant with Resurrection Church, and taught Montessori school, as well as medical terminology at the local technical college. In 1976, Jim retired and Kay, Mike, and Karen moved to Modesto, CA, where Kay obtained her CA teaching credential. Until her retirement, she taught K-6, but especially enjoyed teaching ESL and bilingual Kindergarten. After her retirement in 1992, Jim and Kay moved to Bakersfield, CA, to be near their daughter, Maggie and family. Kay had a genuine devotion to her Catholic faith and always enjoyed helping people, first in hospital labs, in parish work, in teaching, and in her retirement homes. She was an avid walker, traveler, bridge player, reader, and volunteered actively in her grandchildren's classrooms. In 2009, years after Jim's death, Kay moved to Redwood City, CA, for cooler climate and to be near son, Mike. There she met her second husband, Joseph Lavoie, and they were married in 2011. Kay and Joe enjoyed many years of dancing and cruising. Kay and Joe moved back to Bakersfield in 2013, to be near family once again. In 2023, Kay moved to Prescott Valley, AZ, where daughter Maggie resides.
Kay is survived by her children, Thomas (Betsy) Knauf of Salisbury, NC, Margaret (Alan) Schultz of Prescott Valley, AZ, Michael (Pam) Knauf of Green Bay, WI, and Karen (Kevin) Kracht of Cedar Park, TX; grandchildren, Christopher (Amy) Schultz, Taylor (Maribeth) Knauf, Eric (Ari) Schultz, Mathew Knauf, Jessica (Jon) Bairam, Theodore (Stephanie Jordan) Knauf, Sarah Schultz, Anne (Brett Ubl) Knauf, Roger Knauf, and James Kracht; step grandchildren Michelle (Jason) Dahlke and Matt Williquette; great-grandchildren: Natalia, Aidan, Lily, Joey, Patrick, Maddox, Ethan, Connor, Ellie, Clara, Gregory, and Ryder; step great-grandchildren Chase, Aubree, Emmett, and Cameron. Jim Lunney and all of her Lunney nephews and niece were very special to her, as well as the Lavoie children.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Margaret and John Kadletz, her sister, Maureen (Mickey) Lunney, first husband, James Knauf (2001), and second husband, Joseph Lavoie (2019).
Kay would like to be remembered as someone who enjoyed life to the fullest, in relationships, religious practices, health, and exercise. Her words of wisdom are, "Keep communication open at all costs, and pray a lot." She is also remembered for her creative use of social media as well as prolific texting.
Mass of Christian burial will take place on October 18, 2024, in Bakersfield, CA, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church (10:00 am) with internment following at Greenlawn Southwest Cemetery (11:30 am).
The family is very grateful to The Landings of Prescott Valley and Arizona Life Hospice for their kind, compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers please donate to The National Catholic Broadcasting Council at https://dailytvmass.com or Catholic Charities at https://donate.catholiccharitiesusa.org.
www.bakersfield.com/obits
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Bakersfield Californian on Jul. 20, 2024.
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