James “Jim” Knoke of Champaign, Illinois, (formerly of Gresham) passed away Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, at Carle Hospital in Urbana, Illinois at the age of 92.
Jim was born June 30, 1929, the son of Herman and Lucy Knoke in Gresham. He was a Class of 1946 graduate of Gresham High School. He often told stories of his early life growing up amid the forests and farmlands, lakeshores and riverbeds.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1947 where his training in logistics with the Army Quartermaster Corp helped prepare him for many of his future career paths. He married Marie Berchtold in September 1950 in Madigan Army Hospital Chapel in Tacoma, Washington. The marriage lasted 69 years, and they raised five children, Michael, Mary, Joseph, Edward and Paul. He was a member of Holy Cross Church and did volunteer work with the St. Vincent DePaul Society there.
He is survived by son, Michael Knoke (Kate), of Champaign, daughter, Mary Bales, of Champaign, daughters-in-law Merry Knoke, of West Bend, and Sharon Knoke, of Paxton, Illinois; grandsons, Luke (Elizabeth) Knoke, Nick Knoke and Tim Knoke, all of Champaign, and Patrick Knoke, of West Bend; great-grandchildren, Elijah and Emily Knoke, of Champaign; siblings, Alice Bruss, Anita Knoke and John, Gene and Dan Knoke, all of Wisconsin.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marie; sons, Joseph, Paul and Edward Knoke; son-in-law, Kirk Bales; parents; brother, Herman; and sisters, Lorraine Jansen, Cecile Bruss and Marion Moede.
His seven years of military service were served in stateside army installations, overseas in the Aleutian Islands and in Korea during the Korean War. He was proud of his military service and attained the rank of master sergeant. He received a Department of the Army Award and holds letters of commendation from several senior officers.
Education in electronics at the DeVry Technical Institute led to 1955 employment at the University of Illinois in Urbana. He assisted in the invention and development of the Plasma Display Panel. His 1993 retirement as Network Manager of the PLATO System ended his forty year career in the sciences. Jim was a recipient of the University of Illinois Chancellors Distinguished Staff Award.
A private graveside service was held at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Champaign Illinois.
James Knoke
