Peggy Katherine Knoles

Born in Douglas, WY to Paul and Lona (Fowler) Sherwin, Pegg’s early years were spent on the family’s cattle ranch seventy miles north of Douglas on the Cheyenne River, with her sisters and brother. Pegg spent hours attached to her mother’s apron/dress and learned her joy of baking for family, friends and coworkers. Those lemon bars were famous and won her many first-place ribbons at many fairs. Following the families move to Douglas in 1950 and graduating from Douglas High School in 1962.

Peggy then attended Colorado State University, graduating with a degree in Sociology in 1966. She began her college years with a declared major in home economics, but after blowing up a gas oven in the classroom, singeing her eyebrows and stockings, she changed her major to Sociology.

Starting her career with the State of WY-Department of Public Welfare in 1966 as a caseworker then moving to Ketchikan, AK in the same position, she found herself missing WY and the “Love of her life” after three long months in the “Far North”. Jim and Peggy were married in September of 1969 in Torrington, WY and in 1971 they moved to the quiet shores of Lake Minatare, to a home that Jim had built, and she remained in this home after Jim’s death in 2015.

Peggy continued her career in helping people as her life was one of service, compassion, empathy, kindness and love. She worked for Midwek Manufacturing for 11 years, moving on to a Regional Director for the NE Easter Seal Society and then started her career with the State of Nebraska, Department of Health and Human Services as a social worker in 1984, retiring in December 2016. After retirement she started volunteer work at Regional West Medical Center in the gift shop, then moved to the mammography department where she could continue helping those in need of support with her peaceful demeanor. With all her years in public service she met a lot of great friends, and she was a friend to all, she listened and then shot straight from the hip-take it or leave it. We loved all her peacefulness, kindness, stubbornness and “Hoots” of laughter, she had a genuine soul with a gentle heart, and she earned her rest.

Peggy led a very active lifestyle of biking, running, cross-country skiing, swimming, working out at the YMCA, whitewater raft trips and a hot air balloon ride at age 70. She also enjoyed baking Christmas cookies and knitting baby blankets, sweaters, mittens, scarves and large blankets for all her friends and family. Pegg was an avid reader and wrote beautiful poetry. Pegg loved her kitties and gave them the utmost love and care, rescuing many through the years. She was one to stop on the side of the road to gather up one that was no longer with us, bring it to the Vet to be cremated and paid for it.

Peggy is survived by her sister Mary Ellen Sherwin of Douglas, WY, her brother Len Sherwin of Hyattville, WY, as well as her niece Benjean (Jim) Braun of Douglas, WY and her nephew Justin Mercer of Spokane, WA. She also is survived by numerous grandchildren, nephews, nieces of Jim’s family. She is preceded in death by her husband James (Jim) Knoles, her parents Paul and Lona Sherwin and sister Paula Mercer along with numerous kitties.

The Celebration of Life will be held at Papa Moons-The Farm 230975 County Rd J, Scottsbluff, NE on September 13, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Her family will lay her to rest with her husband at West Lawn Cemetery in Gering, NE. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be given to the Panhandle Humane Society.