George "Jack" Knox

Jack was born on February 8, 1942, in Emmetsburg, Iowa, the son of George and Dorothy (Anderson) Knox. Jack grew up on a farm in Gillette Grove, Iowa. He graduated as valedictorian of his 20 person class at Gillette Grove Consolidated School. After high school, Jack attended Iowa State University where he majored in Mechanical Engineering. At ISU he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity and ROTC.

On May 25, 1963, he married Deanne Louise Stenstrom in Des Moines. After briefly working at Lockheed Missiles and Space in Sunnyvale, California, Jack was called for active military duty in the Army. They were stationed at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Jack ultimately achieved the rank of Captain. In 1967, Jack and Deanne returned to Iowa State for graduate school. In 1968, Jack completed a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from ISU and soon after started a career with 3M Company. From 1968 to 1985, Jack and Deanne resided in White Bear Lake and Stillwater, Minnesota where they raised their two sons. In 1986, Jack’s job at 3M relocated them to Austin where they lived the rest of their lives. In 2001, Jack retired from 3M after 32 years. While at 3M, Jack was inventor or co-inventor on nine U.S. patents.

Jack was an active member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church and later, All Saints Presbyterian both in Austin.

Jack had many diverse hobbies over his lifetime. Jack and Deanne bred and showed champion English Bulldogs while living in Minnesota. Jack loved playing bridge, researching his genealogy and drinking beer with friends. Besides his family, Jack’s biggest passion was his beloved Iowa State Cyclones. He watched and cheered for anything involving the Cyclones. In retirement, Jack made annual summer trips back to Iowa to check on his farmland, visit Lake Okoboji, participate in the RAGBRAI bike ride, and spend time with family and friends. Jack was a very devoted husband, dad, and grandpa. Jack was a thoughtful, caring, generous person who will be dearly missed.

Jack and Deanne were married for 51 years until her passing in 2014. Jack is survived by his two sons; Jim Knox, his wife Linda and their two children Cooper and Cora of Dallas; Mike Knox, his wife Raquel and their three children, Parker, Colton, and Mackenzie of Austin; and his two sisters Janet Thompson (Steve) and Joyce Speer (Dave - deceased).

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Deanne.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Monday April 4th at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home at 5416 Parkcrest Drive, Austin. Memorial Service will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday April 5th at All Saints Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Tim Frickenschmidt and Rev. Craig Chapman officiating. Burial will be in Austin Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to Iowa State University Foundation – Knox Scholarship in Engineering #2704453 (www.isuf.info) or We Are Blood (weareblood.org).