Michael W. Knight

1940 - 2025

Michael W. Knight

August 14, 1940 - August 6, 2025

Michael W. Knight, age 84, passed away on August 6, 2025. He was born on August 14, 1940, to Everett and Ellen (nee: Stuckert) Knight in Milwaukee, Wisc. He grew up on a dairy farm in the Town of Yorkville, Wisc., and was active in the Yorkville 4-H Club. He graduated from Union Grove High School and attended the Farm Short Course at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

He worked at Progressive Dairy where he met Carol Clark and they were married on August 25, 1962. He was the milk inspector for Dean's Foods and a cement truck driver for James Cape & Sons. He then drove semi for four airfreight companies which went out of business. He worked for Tax Airfreight from 1984-1999, including 13 years as Safety Director. He was a Semi Driving Instructor for both Gateway Technical College in Racine, Wisc., and Waukesha County Technical College. He drove tanker for Brenntag Great Lakes, Menomonee Falls, retiring in December, 2006.

Farming was in Mike's blood. He and the family farrowed and raised hogs sold to Patrick Cudahy. He was a leader for the Yorkville 4-H swine project. He was a lifelong member of Yorkville United Methodist Church where he served as co-chair of the 2004 Building Committee, president of the Trustees, and treasurer of United Methodist Men. He served on the Yorkville Cemetery Board.

Mike and Carol were square dancers for 43 years, including 25 years with the Dudes & Dolls Club. They bowled for 30 years in the NHLP Church Bowling League, and enjoyed taking the grandchildren for bowling and pizza.

They regularly attended their children's and grandchildren's many musical performances and sporting competitions.

Mike collected Massey Harris tractors and was especially proud of his father's "30" which was restored by son, Andy.

He was a volunteer driver and caregiver for several friends, and was honored with the "Good Neighbor Award" by the Volunteer Center of Racine in 2011. He pulled double trailers of donated hay to Northern Wisconsin in a 1987 hay lift convoy organized by a Milwaukee radio station, and served as an adult volunteer with SE District Youth Mission '93 to North Carolina.

Michael was a longtime school bus driver. From 2009 to 2023 he was employed at Miller-Reesman Funeral Home, Union Grove, Wisc. He enjoyed reading and playing ping-pong with the family.

Michael is survived by Carol, his wife of 62 years; four children, Steven (Sylvia) and Diane Billmyer (Scott Kristopeit) of Racine, Andrew (Kristine) of Union Grove, and Brian (Wendy) of Hoover, Ala.; six grandchildren, Gunnar Knight (Meghan Kane), Alexandria (Connor) Sanchez, Megan Billmyer (Andrew Kusters), Jacob (Lauren) and Emily Knight, Britton Knight; two stepgrandchildren, Thomas and Lily Guentzel; and six great-grandchildren; brother, James (Joan) Knight of Waco, Texas; sisters, Penni (Kenton) Dickerson of Hixson, Tenn., and June Knight-Gemig of Pleasant Prairie, Wisc.; plus brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Gail (Williams) Works; brothers-in-law, Richard Williams and Charles Works; and stepgrandson, David Guentzel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Yorkville United Methodist Church or UMCOR (United Methodist Committee On Relief) for disasters.

Visitation will take place Tuesday, August 12, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Miller-Reesman Funeral Home, and again Wednesday, August 13, 2025, from 10 to 11 a.m., at Yorkville United Methodist Church. Memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Burial at Yorkville Cemetery will immediately follow.

Miller Reesman Funeral Home

620 15th Ave

Union Grove, WI 53182

www.miller-reesman.com

262-878-2500