Kevin A. Knoch

Kevin A. Knoch, 61, beloved husband and friend, entered into the glory of his eternal life on Thursday, June 24, 2010 at Valley Regional Medical Center surrounded by his loving family and friends.

Kevin as he would say, "was sent from heaven on October 11, 1948" in Chicago, IL, the first born son of Charles A. and Margaret J. Knoch. He attended Catholic school in Chicago, and came to the Valley as a young man when his father was transferred here in 1964. He attended St. Joseph Academy as a sophomore and junior, Kevin attended St. Francis High School in Wheaton, IL, where he graduated in 1967. After enduring the bitter cold of a Chicago winter for one year, he returned to the warm winters of Texas to Houston where he attended the University of St. Thomas. After graduation in 1972, Kevin remained in the Houston area for several years.

After returning to Brownsville in 1982, Kevin held various sales positions and in 1990 assumed control of his father's independent business with Cox Recorders. Also in 1990, he married Loraine Garcia on August 16th. In 1997, he began writing for the Port Isabel/South Padre Press, followed by the Business Times of the Rio Grande Valley in 2004. The Business Times ceased publication in March of 2009 and in the summer of 2009, Kevin joined forces with Todd Breland and together they were the proud publishers of the Valley Business Report with Volume 1 Issue 1 beginning in September.

Kevin was a natural born reporter and news hound. He loved history and could remember important dates and events from way back when but his true passion was baseball. He couldn't wait for Opening Day and true to his South Side upbringing in Chicago, he was a proud Chicago White Sox fan.

One of the happiest days in his life was when the White Sox won the World Series in 2005. He was also very proud of his Celtic heritage and would cringe when called an "Anglo". He enjoyed spending time with family and friends and listening to Irish music as he drank his beer. He will be deeply missed by all those fortunate to have known him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles A. and Margaret J. Knoch; his brother, Charles F. "Chuck" Knoch; his mother-in-law, Luz G. "Lucy" Garcia; his sister-in-law, Lydia Pearl "Poe" Garcia; his grandmother-in-law, Maria J. "Granny" Garcia; paternal aunt, Virginia Styler; maternal aunts, Catherine Brennan and Loretta Lannon, and several maternal uncles.

Left behind to eternally treasure their memories of him is his loving wife of 20 years, Loraine Garcia Knoch; his father-in-law, Ruben S. (Martha) Garcia Sr.; his brother-in-law, Ruben S. (Nellie) Garcia Jr.; sisters-in-law, Janey (Andres) Ybarra and Maria Cristina (Miguel) Gonzalez; numerous cousins in the Chicago area, 12 nieces and nephews, 12 great-grand nieces and nephews, and 1 great-great-grand nephew, and his beloved Bassett Hound, his Baby Girl, Peggy Pecosa.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 26, 2010 in the East Chapel at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home. Visitation will resume at 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 27, 2010 and continue until 9 p.m. with the recitation of the holy rosary at 7 p.m. Sunday evening at Darling-Mouser. The Mass of Christian Resurrection will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 28, 2010 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 1914, Barnard Road, Brownsville, Texas. All Services will conclude after the Mass and in accordance with his wishes cremation will follow.

Todd Breland, Robert "Bob" Cornelison, George Estrada, Jesus Enrique Payan, Gilbert Rendon, and Rene Torres are honored to be serving as Kevin's pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be: his father-in-law, Ruben S. Garcia, Sr.; his brothers-in-law: Ruben S. Garcia, Jr., Miguel Gonzalez, and Andres Ybarra; Julio Lozano, Reinaldo Santiso, Joe Hermosa, Richard Ortiz, Glenn Head, Stephen Alvarez, Gilberto Villanueva, Danny Coveny, Phil Meehan, Mark Salvato, Andy Denny, Berl Williams and his nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, Kevin's family is requesting that Memorial gifts be made in his name be to Mother of Perpetual Help, 519 E. Madison St., Brownsville, TX 78520 or to the donor's favorite charity.

You may view the obituary, sign the guestbook, and send your condolences to the Knoch family online at www.darlingmouser.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Darling-Mouser Funeral Home, 945 Palm Blvd., Brownsville, Texas (956) 546-7111.