Funeral arrangements have been announced for former U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, who died Tuesday, Feb. 6, at age 84.
Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at A.J.Desmond Funeral Home, 2600 Crooks Road, between Maple and Big Beaver roads in Troy. Visitation will continue at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Holy Name Catholic Church, 630 Harmon St. in Birmingham, until his funeral Mass begins at 2 p.m.
The Republican congressman represented Oakland County in Washington, D.C. from 1992 to 2008.
State Sen. Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy, said his father died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease. He died at a memory care facility in Troy, where he had lived for about two years.
He is survived by his wife, Sandie, to whom he was married for more than 55 years, and sons Marty (Lori) and Stephen. Knollenberg was the fifth of 13 children, and son of the late William and Helen Knollenberg.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Village Club Foundation, 190 E. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304, or the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).
“Congressman Knollenberg exemplified what we should expect from our elected leaders,” said longtime Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. “He was accessible and responsive in Washington, D.C. every time we had an issue. He was a real friend of Oakland County who represented his constituents well. He will be sorely missed.”
Knollenberg was born in 1933 in Mattoon, Illinois, where he grew up on a farm. After getting a bachelor’s degree and serving in the U.S. Army, he started working in insurance and transferred to Michigan.
Knollenberg was involved in the community as a coach and PTA parent. He was active in his church, local homeowner boards and numerous other organizations.
His political interest began by helping spearhead a local parks and recreation millage so that his young family could enjoy such activities.
Before he was elected to Congress, he was chairman of the Oakland County Republican Party, a district chairman and president of a local GOP club.
“I was saddened to hear of the passing of a close friend and mentor, former Congressman Joe Knollenberg,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop, a Republican from Rochester. “Joe epitomized what it means to be a true public servant. His honorable service in the U.S. Army and his legacy of community service will forever serve as an example for us.”
Democrat Gary Peters, now a U.S. senator, defeated Knollenberg in November 2008.
“Throughout his 16 years of service in Congress, Joe worked tirelessly to represent the people of southeast Michigan,” Peters said in a statement. “He cared deeply about his country and his state, and he remained active in his community even after his service in Congress ended. Joe was a true statesman and a well-respected gentleman – exactly the kind of person you want to see in public service.
“My thoughts are with his family and friends, and I hope they can take a small measure of comfort in knowing that his legacy of dedication and public service to the people of Michigan will live on.”
Gov. Rick Snyder has ordered U.S. and Michigan flags to be lowered to half-staff Friday on all state buildings and within the state Capitol complex in honor of Knollenberg.
Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments and other organizations are encouraged to display the flags at half-staff. Flags should be returned to full staff on Saturday, the governor’s office said.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
