Visitation:
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 from 5-7 p.m. at Holland
Barry & Bennett Funeral Home.
Service:
Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 11 a.m., also at the
funeral home.
Funeral home: Holland Barry & Bennett Funeral
Home
Obituary
Thomas A. "Tommy" "The Old Man"
Knecht, 71, of Lincoln, passed away January 23,
2025, at St, John's Hospital, Springfield.
Visitation will be from 5-7 PM Wednesday, January
29, 2025, at Holland Barry & Bennett Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be at 11 Am Thursday, January
30, 2025, also at the funeral home. Cremation rites
will then be accorded. There will be no burial at
this time.
Tom was born May 4, 1953, in Lincoln, the son of
Donald E. Knecht and Marilyn D. (Atteberry) Knecht.
He married Helen (Doyle) February 13, 1985. He
farmed family ground for many years and was also
formerly employed at Jacques/Remington Seed. He
retired from the state of Illinois after several
years with the Department of Corrections. Tom
enjoyed watching sports, westerns, and the weather
channel. He was a master at taking things apart and
putting them back together, usually in working order
and usually without using all of the original parts.
Lawnmowers were his nemesis, he could never quite
get them put back together in working order, but he
tried anyway. He was a people person, never knew a
stranger and could make a conversation out of a
wrong number. |
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His family was his pride and joy. He
never missed an opportunity to help out or be
involved in whatever his family was doing. He will
be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by all who
knew and loved him. Tom put up a good fight, but it
was his time to ride off into the sunset.
Survivors include his loving wife
Helen Knecht, children: Kathie (Jim) Williams, Erik
(Cara) Knecht, Aaron (Cara) Knecht, and Kelly Knecht;
grandchildren: Alexis, Kaycee (Chris), Quinton,
Chrissy, Keagon, Henry, Levi, Noraa, Rachael, and
Katie; great-grandchildren: Chesnee, Delta, Denver,
Eli, Winter, Odin, and Emersen; brothers Edward
(Beth) Knecht and John (Belinda) Knecht. Many
nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends also survive.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial donations may be made to Chestnut Beason
Park and will be accepted at the funeral home
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