Rudy Andrew Knoester

NEW GLASGOW - RUDY ANDREW KNOESTER, 78, PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY AT THE ABERDEEN HOSPITAL AFTER BATTLING BRAIN CANCER (GLIOBLASTOMA) FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. BORN IN THE NETHERLANDS THEN IMMIGRATED TO CANADA IN 1953 TO THUNDER BAY ONTARIO WITH HIS PARENTS ANDREIS AND HERTTA (WOLFF) KNOESTER AND HIS TWO SISTERS JOANNE AND LOUISE.

AS A YOUNG MAN HE AND HIS FATHER STARTED WORKING IN PULP MILLS IN THUNDER BAY AND MARATHON, ONTARIO BEFORE MOVING TO NEW GLASGOW IN 1967 WHEN SCOTT MARITIMES OPENED. HE WAS A STATIONARY ENGINEER (FIRST CLASS) AND WORKED THERE FOR THIRTY PLUS YEARS UNTIL RETIREMENT. WHILE IN THUNDER BAY HE MET AND MARRIED HIS WIFE RITVA HAPPONEN OF FINLAND.

RUDY LOVED ALL SPORTS. IN HOLLAND HE WAS A HIGHLY SKILLED SOCCER PLAYER WHO CONTINUED PLAYING WELL INTO HIS FORTIES IN CANADA. HE VOLUNTEERED WITH NEW GLASGOW MINOR HOCKEY, YOUTH SOCCER, WEST SIDE COMMUNITY CENTER AND TENNIS CLUB. HE ALSO HAD AN INTEREST IN CARPENTRY AND ENJOYED WORKING ON HIS AND OTHERS PROJECTS. HE ENJOYED MUSIC AND PLAYED THE DRUMS IN BANDS WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

HE WAS A LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE HUDSON LODGE NO. 77, A.F AND A.M. AND THE SHRINER’S CLUB. HE SPENT MANY HOURS IN HIS RETIREMENT WITH THESE GROUPS AND LOVED IT AND THE PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING IN THESE GROUPS.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE RITA AND SONS ERIC KNOESTER (DONNA) GRANDDAUGHTERS HANNAH, OLIVIA, (VICTORIA B.C.), HARRY (CHARLENE) KNOESTER (NEW GLASGOW). HE IS ALSO SURVIVED BY HIS SISTERS JOANNE (LOUIS) TOTEDA AND FAMILY AND LOUISE (DENNIS) TREVISANUTTO AND FAMILY IN THUNDER BAY.

VISITATION WILL BE AT P&K MACDONALD FUNERAL HOME FROM 2 P.M. TO 5 P.M. AND A MASONIC SERVICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT P&K FUNERAL HOME AT 5 P.M. ON MONDAY JULY 25. FAMILY FLOWERS ONLY PLEASE. IF YOU WISH DONATIONS CAN BE MADE IN RUDY’S MEMORY TO THE ABERDEEN HOSPITAL OR THE SHRINER’S HOSPITAL FOR SICK KIDS.

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