After a life of faithful endurance as a Disciple of Jesus, Gary Anthony Knight passed from the loving care of his family to the arms of his Savior Sunday, May 24, 2020.
Gary grew up in the oil fields of Brownstown with his parents, Herman and Ruth (Bullard) Knight as well as his best friend and brother, Vic (Sue) Knight and sister, Linda (Ronald) Thomas.
He attended a one-room schoolhouse where he received a spanking from his teacher on the first day. The stories he told of his childhood were reminiscent of Tom Sawyer.
At 17, he and his brother joined the U.S. Army. He served in Germany from 1961 - 1963 where he witnessed the building of the Berlin Wall.
After graduating from Lincoln Christian College, Gary ministered in two parishes before choosing to serve the State of Illinois.
Gary joined the Illinois State Police March 10, 1970 as a Trooper. He also served in Executive Security for Governor Dan Walker, and then, while earning a Masters Degree at Illinois State University, he joined the Division of Forensic Services as a Crime Scene Investigator.
He solved numerous murders and criminal cases before retiring as Assistant Bureau Chief of Crime Scene Investigations.
Gary retired January 31, 1993 and felt his greatest accomplishment in his tenure was baptizing several of his fellow Troopers into Christ.
Gary's life was ultimately marked by laughter, love, and faith. A consummate Jokester, he brought levity to almost any situation.
The few things he did take seriously were friends, family and faith. Their hearts will always be filled with joyful memories of a father, friend and husband who loved them so.
He left behind his treasured wife of 45 years, Marcia (Petersen) Knight of Springfield, two sons, Christopher (Will) of Chicago, and Joshua (Desire) of Salt Lake City, two daughters, Kimberly (Mike) Humphrey of Milwaukee and Kimberlee of Carbondale; two great nephews whom he raised and loved as sons, John Blocks of Oklahoma and Lee Blocks of Houston. He took joy in being grandfather to six: Seth and Chloee Knight, Taylor and Gillian Humphrey, and Winston and Haddon Knight.
Gary grew up in the oil fields of Brownstown with his parents, Herman and Ruth (Bullard) Knight as well as his best friend and brother, Vic (Sue) Knight and sister, Linda (Ronald) Thomas.
He attended a one-room schoolhouse where he received a spanking from his teacher on the first day. The stories he told of his childhood were reminiscent of Tom Sawyer.
At 17, he and his brother joined the U.S. Army. He served in Germany from 1961 - 1963 where he witnessed the building of the Berlin Wall.
After graduating from Lincoln Christian College, Gary ministered in two parishes before choosing to serve the State of Illinois.
Gary joined the Illinois State Police March 10, 1970 as a Trooper. He also served in Executive Security for Governor Dan Walker, and then, while earning a Masters Degree at Illinois State University, he joined the Division of Forensic Services as a Crime Scene Investigator.
He solved numerous murders and criminal cases before retiring as Assistant Bureau Chief of Crime Scene Investigations.
Gary retired January 31, 1993 and felt his greatest accomplishment in his tenure was baptizing several of his fellow Troopers into Christ.
Gary's life was ultimately marked by laughter, love, and faith. A consummate Jokester, he brought levity to almost any situation.
The few things he did take seriously were friends, family and faith. Their hearts will always be filled with joyful memories of a father, friend and husband who loved them so.
He left behind his treasured wife of 45 years, Marcia (Petersen) Knight of Springfield, two sons, Christopher (Will) of Chicago, and Joshua (Desire) of Salt Lake City, two daughters, Kimberly (Mike) Humphrey of Milwaukee and Kimberlee of Carbondale; two great nephews whom he raised and loved as sons, John Blocks of Oklahoma and Lee Blocks of Houston. He took joy in being grandfather to six: Seth and Chloee Knight, Taylor and Gillian Humphrey, and Winston and Haddon Knight.
After a life of faithful endurance as a Disciple of Jesus, Gary Anthony Knight passed from the loving care of his family to the arms of his Savior Sunday, May 24, 2020.
Gary grew up in the oil fields of Brownstown with his parents, Herman and Ruth (Bullard) Knight as well as his best friend and brother, Vic (Sue) Knight and sister, Linda (Ronald) Thomas.
He attended a one-room schoolhouse where he received a spanking from his teacher on the first day. The stories he told of his childhood were reminiscent of Tom Sawyer.
At 17, he and his brother joined the U.S. Army. He served in Germany from 1961 - 1963 where he witnessed the building of the Berlin Wall.
After graduating from Lincoln Christian College, Gary ministered in two parishes before choosing to serve the State of Illinois.
Gary joined the Illinois State Police March 10, 1970 as a Trooper. He also served in Executive Security for Governor Dan Walker, and then, while earning a Masters Degree at Illinois State University, he joined the Division of Forensic Services as a Crime Scene Investigator.
He solved numerous murders and criminal cases before retiring as Assistant Bureau Chief of Crime Scene Investigations.
Gary retired January 31, 1993 and felt his greatest accomplishment in his tenure was baptizing several of his fellow Troopers into Christ.
Gary's life was ultimately marked by laughter, love, and faith. A consummate Jokester, he brought levity to almost any situation.
The few things he did take seriously were friends, family and faith. Their hearts will always be filled with joyful memories of a father, friend and husband who loved them so.
He left behind his treasured wife of 45 years, Marcia (Petersen) Knight of Springfield, two sons, Christopher (Will) of Chicago, and Joshua (Desire) of Salt Lake City, two daughters, Kimberly (Mike) Humphrey of Milwaukee and Kimberlee of Carbondale; two great nephews whom he raised and loved as sons, John Blocks of Oklahoma and Lee Blocks of Houston. He took joy in being grandfather to six: Seth and Chloee Knight, Taylor and Gillian Humphrey, and Winston and Haddon Knight.
Gary grew up in the oil fields of Brownstown with his parents, Herman and Ruth (Bullard) Knight as well as his best friend and brother, Vic (Sue) Knight and sister, Linda (Ronald) Thomas.
He attended a one-room schoolhouse where he received a spanking from his teacher on the first day. The stories he told of his childhood were reminiscent of Tom Sawyer.
At 17, he and his brother joined the U.S. Army. He served in Germany from 1961 - 1963 where he witnessed the building of the Berlin Wall.
After graduating from Lincoln Christian College, Gary ministered in two parishes before choosing to serve the State of Illinois.
Gary joined the Illinois State Police March 10, 1970 as a Trooper. He also served in Executive Security for Governor Dan Walker, and then, while earning a Masters Degree at Illinois State University, he joined the Division of Forensic Services as a Crime Scene Investigator.
He solved numerous murders and criminal cases before retiring as Assistant Bureau Chief of Crime Scene Investigations.
Gary retired January 31, 1993 and felt his greatest accomplishment in his tenure was baptizing several of his fellow Troopers into Christ.
Gary's life was ultimately marked by laughter, love, and faith. A consummate Jokester, he brought levity to almost any situation.
The few things he did take seriously were friends, family and faith. Their hearts will always be filled with joyful memories of a father, friend and husband who loved them so.
He left behind his treasured wife of 45 years, Marcia (Petersen) Knight of Springfield, two sons, Christopher (Will) of Chicago, and Joshua (Desire) of Salt Lake City, two daughters, Kimberly (Mike) Humphrey of Milwaukee and Kimberlee of Carbondale; two great nephews whom he raised and loved as sons, John Blocks of Oklahoma and Lee Blocks of Houston. He took joy in being grandfather to six: Seth and Chloee Knight, Taylor and Gillian Humphrey, and Winston and Haddon Knight.
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