Alberta Susan Knoll

1934 - 2023

Alberta Susan Knoll
March 12, 1934 - July 17, 2023
Alberta Knoll, age 89, passed away unexpectedly on July 17, 2023, at Sutter Hospital in Santa Rosa, California. Alberta was born along with her twin sister, Albina, on a farm in Quinter, Kansas, on March 12, 1934. She was the daughter of German immigrant parents, Theodore and Rosalie Zimmerman, and was one of fourteen children.

Alberta met her future husband Bill while she and her sister were working as waitresses in a restaurant in Kansas in 1952. She and Bill were subsequently married in November 1953, and thereafter moved to California and had two sons.

In 1972, Alberta and Bill moved from Santa Rosa to Lakeport and managed the Sprouse- Reitz variety store for 21 years. After Bill retired in 1993, Alberta was offered a position as an apparel specialist for the company's regional office in Sacramento which involved a lot of traveling. Alberta and Bill made many friends while in Lakeport and decided to remain there and make it their home. Upon retiring, Alberta became a proprietor of the clothing store known as Mix N Match in the Willow Tree Shopping Plaza for about three years. After volunteering at the Sutter cardiac rehabilitation unit following bypass surgery, she became a member of the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Auxiliary and volunteered to manage the Sutter Lakeside Hospital gift shop, the profits from which were used for, among other things, hospital equipment and furniture, healthcare-related student scholarships, and care packages for underprivileged new mothers. One year, she was awarded Volunteer of the Year. She was known as the heart and soul of the volunteer program at Sutter Lakeside Hospital. Altogether, Alberta worked in the retail industry for 64 years.

Alberta was a member of St. Mary Immaculate Catholic Church in Lakeport, and belonged to the women's organization there known as the Belles of St. Mary's, volunteering to participate in many fundraising events.

Alberta brought positive energy to everything she did. She was outgoing and could strike up a conversation and friendship with just about anybody. She was admired for her very strong work ethic and extreme passion for any task that she undertook. She led an admirable life of service for the community of Lake County.

In her spare time, Alberta enjoyed baking, gardening, watching the SF Giants, hosting several annual Fourth of July and Christmas events with her family, and spending as much time as possible with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Alberta leaves behind her loving husband, Bill, of 68 years, devoted sons Art (Sue) and Kurt (Barbara), adoring grandchildren Kim (Jon), Melissa (Jason) and Chris (Lienne), great-grandchildren, Hendrix, Conner, Maddux, Sophie and Jackson, brother Eddie Zimmerman (Dee), sisters Albina Moore, Johanna Dreher, Loretta Waldman (Bob), Sally Burgardt, Renie Thomas (Clyde), and dozens of nieces, nephews and extended family.

A mass will be held on August 11, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Star of the Valley Catholic Church, 545 White Oak Drive, Santa Rosa, California, followed by a memorial reception at Fairview Valley of the Moon at 7025 Oakmont Drive in Santa Rosa, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Alberta's name to the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Auxiliary, 5176 Hill Road East, Lakeport, CA 95453.