Ronald Lee Kniola

Ronald Lee Kniola, 79, of Porter, IN, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, after a brief illness.

Ron was born on April 3, 1946, in Chesterton to Rosemary and Joseph Kniola. He graduated from CHS Class of 1964, was an ROTC cadet and attended Butler and Purdue Universities.

Ron had a lifelong love of sports. He played baseball, basketball, football, and ran cross-country at CHS and played football and baseball at Butler. He loved golf, and when he was no longer playing, he watched it on TV. He was an avid tennis player, was a coach at Marquette High School for 7 years and a regular player at the Northwest Athletic Club. His love for tennis evolved into a passion for pickleball. His family is so happy that he was able to spend the last days before his illness with pickleball friends, playing the sport he loved.

Ron was an active member of the Michigan City community. Many know him from Kniola's Meating Place in Michigan City and Chesterton. He served as the President of the Michigan City Port Authority Board, was President of the Michigan City Town Council, and had an exciting run for the Mayor of Michigan City in 1998.

He spent his spare time on the shores of Lake Michigan. When he could no longer kayak, summer evenings found him sitting on Porter Beach taking pictures of the sunset.

After retirement he was a substitute teacher at Chesterton High School. It brought him great fulfillment to be a part of the CHS community and interact with the students. Substituting for his grandkids' classes brought him great joy - his last day of teaching he subbed in his youngest grandson's class.

He was incredibly proud of his children and grandchildren and loved them dearly.

Ron is survived by his children, Lisa (Michael) Joesten and Jason (Cari) Kniola; his grandchildren David, Madeline, and Abigail Joesten and Nyima and Kai Kniola; and his sisters, Mary Lou Wykoff and Nancy Wagner. He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Rosemary Kniola, his brothers Robert Kniola and Joseph Kniola, Jr., and his sisters Joan Ferguson and Carol Kniola.

A Celebration of Life will be held April 4th at 1:30pm at Hawthorne Park Community Center in Porter.