KNIGHT John

MR. JOHN LLOYD “JACK” KNIGHT, passed from this life to eternity on Monday, September 2, 2013 at the tender age of 94 years. Jack Knight was born in Lethbridge, Alberta to Agnes and Joseph Knight on August 24th 1919, the second child of a family of eight. He experienced the loss of three siblings in childhood; his older sister Margaret, younger sister Laura, and younger brother Billy. As an adult, Jack had to say goodbye to his brothers Kenneth and Ronald, both of whom served in the Second World War. He is survived by his brother, Richard(Pam) Knight, and sister Pauline Secretan. The family was raised in Woolford, Alberta. Dad married his childhood sweetheart, Laura May Pitcher, on March 15th, 1941, prior to enlisting in the Canadian Army. To this union, three children were born; Joanne Elizabeth, John Arthur and Margaret May. He is survived by his daughters. His son died in infancy. After Laura’s passing in 1975, Jack married Kay (Kathleen) Pierson and became step-father to Debbie, Ken, Donna and David Pierson. Kay passed away in 2008. In the spring of 1942, Jack volunteered and was accepted into the ranks of the First Special Service force. This elite force was the first ever of the North American Special Forces and Special Operations. Their battle honours have been passed to current Special Forces and Special Operations: JTF2 in Canada and to groups such as Delta Force and Seal Team 6 in the U.S. Dad was one of the few original members of the First Special Service Force to survive WWII. This top secret battalion trained at the remote Camp William Henry Harrison in Helena, Montana. While a member of the First Special Service Force, he held a number of field commands. At the time of his discharge from the Canadian army, he held the rank of Staff Sergeant. He saw duty in the Aleutian Islands, North Africa, South Italy, Mt. La Defensa, the Anzio Beachhead, and the South France Airborne Task Force Invasion. The men of the First Special Service Force were the first Allied troops to enter Rome and are widely credited with the liberation of this city. He later attended Sandhurst Royal Military Academy. He was awarded nine Military Service Medals, as well as the American Army’s Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star and the Silver Star, the latter for gallantry in action. The latest recognition came this summer, 2013, when the American Congress awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor to the First Special Service Force. Once he returned from active duty, Jack worked with his father in a John Deere dealership in Woolford, AB. In 1951, his young family relocated to Nobleford, AB, where Jack was employed at Noble Cultivator’s Ltd. He worked his way up to Sales Manager and continued his employment there for many years. In the late 60’s, he worked at Giesler Manufacturing, before moving to Edward’s Rod Weeder. Jack formally retired at the age of sixty-seven, but that was just the open door to volunteerism. Jack became involved in local politics, serving on the Village of Nobleford Council and the Old Man River Planning Commission. He was very involved with the Nobleford Oldtimers; driving the van to Lethbridge on a regular basis for many years. Also, for 67 years he was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Left to mourn his passing, among others, are: his sister, Pauline; his brother, Richard;two sisters-in-law, Ruth Knight and Arthea Brack; his daughters, Joanne(Richard) Chute; Margaret (Lawrence) Van Egmond and their children; Chris(Rachel) Van Egmond, Jennifer(Luis) Van Egmond Caceres and Matthew Van Egmond; as well as great grandchildren Ressa and Nolan Van Egmond. He is also survived by Kay’s children: Debbie Pierson and her daughter Tiffany, along with three grandchildren(Savannah, Payton and Sierra); Ken(Joanne) Pierson and their daughters, Carrie(Mike) and Pam(Lauren) and six grandchildren(Lincoln, Devon, London, Mason, Taylor and Ava); Donna(Glen)Alm and their Daughters Karli and Katie; David Pierson. (Jack was predeceased by two grandsons, Lloyd Van Egmond and Travis Bourassa) On Jack’s behalf, the family would like to say a special thanks to Valerie Sherwood, the Staff and Residents of both Piyami Lodge and Black Rock Terrace, and the Medical Professionals on the 4th Floor of Chinook Regional Hospital. All contributed to the quality of Dad’s life and the dignity of his passing. Jack’s life will be Celebrated at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME – 2800 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge, AB, on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 1:00 P.M. with Pastor Peter Coyne officiating. Interment will follow at Archmount Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of floral tributes donations of time, or financial resource, be made to the charity of your choice; Dad was a benevolent man.
Honoured to Serve
Cornerstone Funeral Home & Crematorium
2800 Mayor Magrath Drive South
Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 7B1
Telephone ~ (403) 381-7777
Fax ~ (403) 381-3128
Toll Free ~ 1-(888)-381-7778
care@cornerstonefh.ca