John B. Knauff

I taught at the U of M during many of the years that John taught there. We were both adjuncts, and it was always a pleasure to see John. I know that he was liked very much by his students and he was equally well-liked by those of us who taught with him. The world will miss his presence. May God bless.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

John was a great person and a wonderful teacher. He truly cared about his students and colleagues. As a PhD student at the U of M, I was John's TA. He helped me give my very first lecture (it was really terrible, but his feedback and confidence in me was greatly appreciated.) As a colleague at the University of St. Thomas, he was a wonderful resource and his suggestions made my classes better. He will be sorely missed.

John was a favorite professor in the IMBA course. I remember him for his dry wit and his remarkable insights. He went out of his way to mediate a conflict that I had with another professor over a grade, even when it was not in his best interest to do so. The world is a poorer place without John Knauff. God bless his family and friends.

Dear ones, No, I did not teach with John, nor share an office, nor take a class from him.

John was the guy next door, the one who took the kids to the dump, slept all day after working nights and put up with the neighbor kids' noise, the one whose hunting equipment didn't quite fit in the small cabin, the one who wrote a wonderful paper on Del's birthday, the one who tore out the back yard fountains on Emerson----How much can I say to all of you---only how much you have meant to all our family over the many years and how much we treasure your continuing friendship. As Nancy Jo said once, "You need to nourish your friendship". How true. Love. Shirl

When I joined St. Thomas in 1997, John was one of the senior professors in the Graduate School of Business. I loved seeing John whenever he was in - he had a great sense of humor, and cared for his students as much as any profesosr I ever met. I will miss John, although I am better for having known him. My sympathies to the family.

I was fortunate to be a student of John's at the Kotz Graduate School of Management, the original EMBA - and will never forget his commitment to the ethics of business. He truly knew the importance of this topic and walked the walk. I am grateful to have known him.

God Bless John! I was in the first MBA Class 1985 Grad that John and Dr. Kotz started together. Mrs. Knauff, he was a prince of a guy and I appreciated him very much. I will surely miss him. I pray for you and your family and may God Watch over you and Bless you all. Please accept my condolances.

John Knauff was not only a distinguished and effective professor. He was a wonderful person and a loyal friend. His practical interpretations of events and their causes will always be remembered by students, colleagues, and those of us who were his friends. God bless him and his family.

Upon hearing this sad news, I reflected on the number of people John touched during his life - students, colleagues, family, friends. The number is easily in the five figures given his work at multiple universities. This is the legacy John wanted to leave and there are many, many people left better off by this wonderful man who had knowledge, passion, humor, plaid shirts and suspenders. Farewell, John. Good-bye is just the step before saying hello again.

I was a secretary in the MBA department for a couple of years in the mid-1990s, and I had the good fortune to get to know John then. He struck me as a very kind, witty and hard-working man. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

John was one of my instructors in the Executive MBA program. One of his greatest teachings to me was from his use of the phase, "Do you want advice or therapy?", meaning that 1) some people want advice in order to take actions and 2) some just want a chance to vent and be heard. It's often very important to know the difference. Thanks, John.

In the early days of the EMBA it was my privilege - my great fortune - to have ample opportunities to be with John. Most of what I learned back then I've long forgotten, but the anecdotes, the examples, the exceptional ideas that came from John stay sharply with me, and get carried forward to others in my own consulting work. A most wonderful teacher, a most wonderful person.

i was greatly saddened to hear about John's death.I knew him for many years.He was an outstanding person and teacher.He was a friend to everybody.My prayers are with his family

As a member of the prototype group for what is now the Executive MBA program at St. Thomas, I found John to be a wonderful and very down - to earth teacher. I learned, among other things, that learning can be practical and fun at the same time. He was a wonderful tutor / mentor to us all.



Jim Johnson

Group Zero

To John's Family,

The world is less of a place now that John's gone. I was on the faculty with him at UST GSB. I looked up to him, admired and respected him and always wanted to be like him when I "grew up." Fair winds and following seas, John.

John was one of the last true gentlemen on this planet. He was a class act, without any peers. I was fortunate to have him as a colleague for 25+ years. I was even more fortunate to be able to call him "friend".



I miss you, John.



Phil

I had the pleasure of co-teaching with John at St Thomas. He was one of the finest teachers I have known. I learned so much from him.



I marvelled at his caring dedication to the students and his unflagging willingness to help any and all who asked.



My life is richer for having known John, and we are made less whole by his passing.



He was a cherished colleague and one who was my role model in so many ways as a teacher, a friend and human being.

John and I taught and had offices adjoining at St. Thomas for many years. He was a marvelous teacher with skills not often seen. He was considerate, kind and respectful to his students. They responded with admiration. He was extraordinarily gifted in the classroom. His ethics, wisdom and common sense live on in the more than two generations of students he taught.

My office was next door to John while he was at the MCN Hall and certainly he was one who had a "wealth of knowledge" when it came to operations and the teaching of Business Ethics. I did team teach with John and he was able to inspire students with his stories regarding his business experience. May God grant his family "peace" throughout this time of sorrow.



Peace,

To John’s family,

My thoughts and prayers are with you. I had the privilege of having John as an instructor during my undergraduate years at St. Thomas. Many of the lessons that he taught are still with me and used in my professional and personal life. John’s legacy will be carried on by all who have learned from him.

John was a friend and an inspiration. He will be greatly missed here in the Carlson School. My prayers and sympathy go out to the family for their great loss.

John shepherded me through becoming an adjunct professor at St. Thomas. For many years, John and I merely talked on the phone. Once, during an illness, I substituted for John and upon completion got to finally meet my mentor. What a charming, genuine, and supremely friendly person! John was a great example of the Greatest Generation. I, for one, will miss him very much indeed.

God bless you, John. You were a special person.

I will miss John dearly! I was blessed to co-teach with him. Not only did he teach me lessons of the head, but, more importantly, lessons of the heart.



I will miss his stories and his sense of humor. I so enjoyed seeing him laugh. I will especially miss watching him tell students about his trip to the chicken factory. I smile just thinking about it.



I began my relationship with John disagreeing with just about everything he had to say. He made me crazy in meetings. When I was assigned to co-teach with him the first time, I almost asked to be switched. I am so very grateful I kept my mouth shut!



He was a mentor and advisor, and his wisdom will leave us with a void.



I'll miss you John...I hope to see you on the other side and look forward to more stories!



Be Well!

Barbara

To John's family,

I am sorry to hear of your loss. I worked with John at Rosemount Inc and am sorry to hear of his passing.

Please know that you have the thoughts and prayers of many at this difficult time.

I taught at the Carlson School of Management for many years with John. I know that he was very much admired by his fellow adjunct teachers and that he was considered by his students to be an excellent teacher--one who really cared for each of his students. It was always a "day brightener" to meet with him. The world will miss you John. My sincere condolences to your family.

Dear family and friends,



John was a great friend and colleague of mine at the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management. I remember fondly the time John took me sailing on his boat. Oh, how he loved sailing. I also remember the great discussions we had about teaching Operations Management. John was truly a dedicated and great teacher. I will certainly miss his companionship and our professional association.



May he rest in peace.



Roger G. Schroeder,

Donaldson Chaired Professor in Operations Management

My prayers and sympathies are with the entire the family. I taught with John for many years at St. Thomas and was privileged to team-teach with John on a couple of occasions. John touched many people in a very positive way and his legacy of caring and his commitment to excellence will certainly continue.