Richard Knauf, Jr

Richard Fred “Dick” Knauf, Jr., age 78 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 5:20 a.m. on Saturday, April 22, 2017 with his family gathered around at Morning View Assisted Living in South Bend, Indiana following an extended illness.

He was born on October 17, 1938 in South Bend, Indiana to Richard Rudolph Walter and Elsie Martha (Albert) Knauf. He was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived here all of his life. He served in the United States Army, and was discharged as a Veteran of the Viet Nam Era. He was first employed at the former Buchanan plant of Clark Equipment, and then as a contractor for the former Williams’ Brothers Lumber and Supply. Eventually he owned and operated Dick’s Construction, remodeling and repairing many homes and businesses in the area. He installed and serviced many overhead garage doors and provided snowplowing service to several loyal customers. He was also a highly skilled cabinetmaker, creating fine quality wood furniture.

Dick was a member of Saint John’s United Church of Christ in Niles, American Legion Post #51 in Buchanan, and the Loyal Order of Moose Chapter #449 in Buchanan. He was a well-known outdoorsman, enjoying fishing and hunting for a variety of big game.

On April 2, 1966 in Niles he married the former Dottie J. Metcalf with whom he celebrated their thirty-fourth anniversary prior to her death on February 17, 2001. On July 7, 2007 in Niles he married Jackie Lee (Cochran) Saunders with whom he celebrated last year their ninth anniversary.

Surviving family includes his wife, Jackie and his son, Randy (& Ellen) Knauf of Hickory, North Carolina, and Jackie’s children, Page Dewald of South Bend and Cory Saunders of Niles; grandchildren Sara Knauf, Adam Knauf, Brittany Sounders Bollinger, and Jade Dewald; great-granddaughter, Ella Randall; and Dick’s sister, Marilyn Leiler of Niles and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Richard Knauf, Jr. will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Raymond Fulbright of Saint John’s United Church of Christ officiating. The service will conclude with Full Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Dick may be made to Harbor Light Hospice.