Joseph D. McKnight

Joseph D. McKnight, 92, of Milan, passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at Silver Cross Nursing Center, Rock Island. Services for Mr. McKnight will be 10 am, Monday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Milan. Visitation will be on Sunday from 11 am to 1 pm at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Rock Island Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Milan or to the family to plant trees in Joe’s memory.

Joseph McKnight was born on March 18, 1932, in Muscatine, Iowa, the son of Weldon and Lucy (O’Dell) McKnight.

 He married Elinor Hahn on July 29, 1956, in Milan. She was the love of his life. Joe would say the moment he saw the girl with the beautiful blue eyes across the table he knew this was the girl he wanted to marry. Joe and Elinor were married for 67 years.

Mr. McKnight was an electrician. He worked for L & W Electric, the Electric Construction Company, and for Iowa Illinois Gas & Electric Company. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Milan where he had served as an elder, and was active on the church building committee. Joe was also a member of the IBEW Local No. 145, Moline. He enjoyed woodworking, traveling, and spending time with his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Elinor; sons, Kirk (Anita) McKnight, Milan, and Tim (Brenda) McKnight, Milan; grandchildren, Michael (Mandy) McKnight, Kellie McKnight, Sean (Kathy) McKnight, Megan (Alex) Doane, and Nathan (Molly) McKnight; great grandchildren, Jordan, Mason, Maddox, Ailbhe, Charli, Calvin, Lilly, and Decker; siblings, Elizabeth Woodward, Pat McKnight, and Theresa Collins.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Janet McKnight; and a brother, Michael McKnight. 

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