Legendary coach, driving instructor, phys ed and science teacher, and Dad wit connoisseur Bob Knight passed away Saturday 23 October 2021 surrounded by family at the age of 80 after a heroic battle with metastatic melanoma.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nonie, his five children Phil, Carolyn, David, Dan, and Kris, along with two brothers Norman, and Mickey as well as five grandchildren and many nieces, and nephews.
Bob spent his early childhood growing up in Alabama as the third of four boys, and learned hard work early on picking cotton on the family farm.
During high school, his family moved to Adrian, MI where he charmed his future wife Nonie with his good looks and southern accent. He was an outstanding athlete, earning a scholarship to the University of Wyoming for football or basketball, concentrating solely on football after his freshman year.
While in Wyoming, they loved going into the Snowy Range, hiking in the mountains, and taking advantage of the dry sunny climate. Bob received his Bachelors in Education and started work on his Masters degree before taking his first teaching job at Muskegon High. He finished his Masters degree after several summers back in Wyoming.
During his years at Muskegon High, he started the wrestling program and coached as an assistant for football while teaching science and physical education. He also got his certification as a driving instructor from WMU.
In 1971, he made the jump to Portage Central when the position for head varsity football coach opened up. He remained the head football coach at Portage Central for 34 years earning 14 conference championships, 10 playoff runs and a trip to the state championship. After retiring as head coach, he returned as an assistant for another 7 years. He also coached track for 15 years while at Portage, as head track coach for 5 years and 10 years as assistant. During his time at Portage he taught physical education, and was a driving instructor famous for pushing down on kid's knees when they didn't accelerate fast enough onto the highway. He started a weekly Mother's football class which ran during the season, believing the support of the whole family was a key to the success of the team.
While he wasn't known for his patience in everyday life, he could wait months for a practical joke to come to its full potential.
His time in "C" lunch also saw the prankster in him come out, earning him an engraved seatback from one of his colleagues as a token of their fun moments.
Bob loved talking football and was widely recognized wherever he went.
He also loved his family and enjoyed visiting and adventuring wherever they were. He especially loved his grandkids whom he would spend great amounts of time wrestling with and passing on his athletic prowess. He had a knack for meeting people at their level whether it was teaching his son's secretary how to do the Hussle, or his grandkids how to descend stairs safely.
He was a big believer in community and put a lot of work into building one wherever he went. It was well known, if he heard a chainsaw or other outdoor tool, he would show up as he loved working outside and was always eager to help his neighbors. His church meant a great deal to him where he regularly volunteered, and handed out his favorite Dove chocolates which became one of his trademarks.
Friends may meet the family on Thursday, November 4 from 5:00 - 8:00pm; Friday from 2:00 - 4:00pm and 6:00 - 8:00pm at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, 3926 South 9th Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. There will also be visitation Saturday, November 6 from 10:00-11:00am at St. Michael Lutheran Church, 7211 Oakland Dr. where a service to celebrate Bob's life will follow at 11:00 am. Private interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Michael Lutheran Church and School, Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes, Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries, or the Portage Central Football Booster Club.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nonie, his five children Phil, Carolyn, David, Dan, and Kris, along with two brothers Norman, and Mickey as well as five grandchildren and many nieces, and nephews.
Bob spent his early childhood growing up in Alabama as the third of four boys, and learned hard work early on picking cotton on the family farm.
During high school, his family moved to Adrian, MI where he charmed his future wife Nonie with his good looks and southern accent. He was an outstanding athlete, earning a scholarship to the University of Wyoming for football or basketball, concentrating solely on football after his freshman year.
While in Wyoming, they loved going into the Snowy Range, hiking in the mountains, and taking advantage of the dry sunny climate. Bob received his Bachelors in Education and started work on his Masters degree before taking his first teaching job at Muskegon High. He finished his Masters degree after several summers back in Wyoming.
During his years at Muskegon High, he started the wrestling program and coached as an assistant for football while teaching science and physical education. He also got his certification as a driving instructor from WMU.
In 1971, he made the jump to Portage Central when the position for head varsity football coach opened up. He remained the head football coach at Portage Central for 34 years earning 14 conference championships, 10 playoff runs and a trip to the state championship. After retiring as head coach, he returned as an assistant for another 7 years. He also coached track for 15 years while at Portage, as head track coach for 5 years and 10 years as assistant. During his time at Portage he taught physical education, and was a driving instructor famous for pushing down on kid's knees when they didn't accelerate fast enough onto the highway. He started a weekly Mother's football class which ran during the season, believing the support of the whole family was a key to the success of the team.
While he wasn't known for his patience in everyday life, he could wait months for a practical joke to come to its full potential.
His time in "C" lunch also saw the prankster in him come out, earning him an engraved seatback from one of his colleagues as a token of their fun moments.
Bob loved talking football and was widely recognized wherever he went.
He also loved his family and enjoyed visiting and adventuring wherever they were. He especially loved his grandkids whom he would spend great amounts of time wrestling with and passing on his athletic prowess. He had a knack for meeting people at their level whether it was teaching his son's secretary how to do the Hussle, or his grandkids how to descend stairs safely.
He was a big believer in community and put a lot of work into building one wherever he went. It was well known, if he heard a chainsaw or other outdoor tool, he would show up as he loved working outside and was always eager to help his neighbors. His church meant a great deal to him where he regularly volunteered, and handed out his favorite Dove chocolates which became one of his trademarks.
Friends may meet the family on Thursday, November 4 from 5:00 - 8:00pm; Friday from 2:00 - 4:00pm and 6:00 - 8:00pm at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, 3926 South 9th Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. There will also be visitation Saturday, November 6 from 10:00-11:00am at St. Michael Lutheran Church, 7211 Oakland Dr. where a service to celebrate Bob's life will follow at 11:00 am. Private interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Michael Lutheran Church and School, Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes, Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries, or the Portage Central Football Booster Club.
Legendary coach, driving instructor, phys ed and science teacher, and Dad wit connoisseur Bob Knight passed away Saturday 23 October 2021 surrounded by family at the age of 80 after a heroic battle with metastatic melanoma.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nonie, his five children Phil, Carolyn, David, Dan, and Kris, along with two brothers Norman, and Mickey as well as five grandchildren and many nieces, and nephews.
Bob spent his early childhood growing up in Alabama as the third of four boys, and learned hard work early on picking cotton on the family farm.
During high school, his family moved to Adrian, MI where he charmed his future wife Nonie with his good looks and southern accent. He was an outstanding athlete, earning a scholarship to the University of Wyoming for football or basketball, concentrating solely on football after his freshman year.
While in Wyoming, they loved going into the Snowy Range, hiking in the mountains, and taking advantage of the dry sunny climate. Bob received his Bachelors in Education and started work on his Masters degree before taking his first teaching job at Muskegon High. He finished his Masters degree after several summers back in Wyoming.
During his years at Muskegon High, he started the wrestling program and coached as an assistant for football while teaching science and physical education. He also got his certification as a driving instructor from WMU.
In 1971, he made the jump to Portage Central when the position for head varsity football coach opened up. He remained the head football coach at Portage Central for 34 years earning 14 conference championships, 10 playoff runs and a trip to the state championship. After retiring as head coach, he returned as an assistant for another 7 years. He also coached track for 15 years while at Portage, as head track coach for 5 years and 10 years as assistant. During his time at Portage he taught physical education, and was a driving instructor famous for pushing down on kid's knees when they didn't accelerate fast enough onto the highway. He started a weekly Mother's football class which ran during the season, believing the support of the whole family was a key to the success of the team.
While he wasn't known for his patience in everyday life, he could wait months for a practical joke to come to its full potential.
His time in "C" lunch also saw the prankster in him come out, earning him an engraved seatback from one of his colleagues as a token of their fun moments.
Bob loved talking football and was widely recognized wherever he went.
He also loved his family and enjoyed visiting and adventuring wherever they were. He especially loved his grandkids whom he would spend great amounts of time wrestling with and passing on his athletic prowess. He had a knack for meeting people at their level whether it was teaching his son's secretary how to do the Hussle, or his grandkids how to descend stairs safely.
He was a big believer in community and put a lot of work into building one wherever he went. It was well known, if he heard a chainsaw or other outdoor tool, he would show up as he loved working outside and was always eager to help his neighbors. His church meant a great deal to him where he regularly volunteered, and handed out his favorite Dove chocolates which became one of his trademarks.
Friends may meet the family on Thursday, November 4 from 5:00 - 8:00pm; Friday from 2:00 - 4:00pm and 6:00 - 8:00pm at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, 3926 South 9th Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. There will also be visitation Saturday, November 6 from 10:00-11:00am at St. Michael Lutheran Church, 7211 Oakland Dr. where a service to celebrate Bob's life will follow at 11:00 am. Private interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Michael Lutheran Church and School, Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes, Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries, or the Portage Central Football Booster Club.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nonie, his five children Phil, Carolyn, David, Dan, and Kris, along with two brothers Norman, and Mickey as well as five grandchildren and many nieces, and nephews.
Bob spent his early childhood growing up in Alabama as the third of four boys, and learned hard work early on picking cotton on the family farm.
During high school, his family moved to Adrian, MI where he charmed his future wife Nonie with his good looks and southern accent. He was an outstanding athlete, earning a scholarship to the University of Wyoming for football or basketball, concentrating solely on football after his freshman year.
While in Wyoming, they loved going into the Snowy Range, hiking in the mountains, and taking advantage of the dry sunny climate. Bob received his Bachelors in Education and started work on his Masters degree before taking his first teaching job at Muskegon High. He finished his Masters degree after several summers back in Wyoming.
During his years at Muskegon High, he started the wrestling program and coached as an assistant for football while teaching science and physical education. He also got his certification as a driving instructor from WMU.
In 1971, he made the jump to Portage Central when the position for head varsity football coach opened up. He remained the head football coach at Portage Central for 34 years earning 14 conference championships, 10 playoff runs and a trip to the state championship. After retiring as head coach, he returned as an assistant for another 7 years. He also coached track for 15 years while at Portage, as head track coach for 5 years and 10 years as assistant. During his time at Portage he taught physical education, and was a driving instructor famous for pushing down on kid's knees when they didn't accelerate fast enough onto the highway. He started a weekly Mother's football class which ran during the season, believing the support of the whole family was a key to the success of the team.
While he wasn't known for his patience in everyday life, he could wait months for a practical joke to come to its full potential.
His time in "C" lunch also saw the prankster in him come out, earning him an engraved seatback from one of his colleagues as a token of their fun moments.
Bob loved talking football and was widely recognized wherever he went.
He also loved his family and enjoyed visiting and adventuring wherever they were. He especially loved his grandkids whom he would spend great amounts of time wrestling with and passing on his athletic prowess. He had a knack for meeting people at their level whether it was teaching his son's secretary how to do the Hussle, or his grandkids how to descend stairs safely.
He was a big believer in community and put a lot of work into building one wherever he went. It was well known, if he heard a chainsaw or other outdoor tool, he would show up as he loved working outside and was always eager to help his neighbors. His church meant a great deal to him where he regularly volunteered, and handed out his favorite Dove chocolates which became one of his trademarks.
Friends may meet the family on Thursday, November 4 from 5:00 - 8:00pm; Friday from 2:00 - 4:00pm and 6:00 - 8:00pm at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, 3926 South 9th Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. There will also be visitation Saturday, November 6 from 10:00-11:00am at St. Michael Lutheran Church, 7211 Oakland Dr. where a service to celebrate Bob's life will follow at 11:00 am. Private interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Michael Lutheran Church and School, Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes, Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries, or the Portage Central Football Booster Club.
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