Pearl H. Knox (nee Bowers), age 87, of West Bend, passed away Friday December 14, 2007 at St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee after a short illness.
She was born in Marion on May 20, 1920 to the late Frank and Helen (nee Kopitzke) Bowers. After completing high school, Pearl attended the University of Wisconsin, earning a B.S. Degree in Home Economics. She met her future husband, Howard Knox, while studying at Madison. They were united in marriage on January 29, 1943 at South Milwaukee Methodist Church. Howard was shipped off to the Pacific in the U.S. Navy, and Pearl returned to work in Green Lake County as County Home Agent with the University of Wisconsin.
After Howard returned from WW II, he worked as County 4-H Agent in Sheboygan for six years. He then attended seminary, becoming a Lutheran minister. Pearl and Howard served churches wherever the Lord led them: Lancaster, Waupaca (Pine Lake Camp), Brookfield, and Kenosha. They settled in West Bend in 1988 after retirement. It was here they became active members of St. Luke Church in Slinger. Pearl was very active in every church: Sunday school, choir, and women's church groups on both the local and state levels.
While living in Lancaster, Pearl was a mover and shaker. She was a driving force to start the Handies, a girls' volunteer nurse's assistant program; the 4-H Club for girls; and the school PTA program. She was a planning consultant for a new Extension building on the Grant County Fairgrounds. Pearl also organized the Lancaster AFS program and hosted an AFS student from Costa Rica. Her motto was always "Bloom Where You're Planted."
She is survived by her husband, the Rev. Howard Knox; two children, John (Karen) Knox of Pocatello, ID, and Nancy (David) Wellington of Spring Valley; four grandchildren, Kirstin (Joel Yurdin) Knox, Kjersti Knox, Sonia Wellington, and Carl (Jenny Briggs) Wellington; a great-granddaughter, Sarah Wellington; a brother, Arthur (Prudence) Bowers of Marion; a sister-in-law, Marion Marifke of Milwaukee; two brothers-in-law, Harold Laatsch of Clintonville, and Merle Knox of West Bend; other relatives and many friends. A sister, Ruby Laatsch, preceded her in death.
Memorial services to remember Pearl will be held on Tuesday December 18th at 7:00 p.m. at St. Luke Lutheran Church, Slinger (4860 Arthur Rd.); Rev. Rick Lawrence will officiate. Visitation will be Tuesday at the church only from 5:00 p.m. until the time of service. Burial will take place on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. in Hillside Cemetery, Whitewater. Memorials may be given to St. Luke Church, Cedar Community Foundation, or Ventures in People.