John "Jack" McKnight

John J. “Jack” McKnight passed away, at home, Saturday, October 15, 2022.  A son of the late Joseph and Mary (Squires) McKnight, he was born on November 20, 1937 in St. Marys, PA.

Jack graduated St. Marys High School in 1957. On July 11, 1957 he entered the US Army where he served as a Radar Operator at the DMZ of Korea.  In 1961 he married his wife Mary Jo at St. Michael’s Catholic Church of DuBois, PA.

Jack was very talented. He was an Artist, painting pictures and loved to work with wood. Jack carved ducks and made custom muzzle loaders, the “Pennsylvania Longrifle”.  He had made a Longrifle to be auctioned by the NRA for a fundraiser and was commissioned to build a Longrifle as a gift for Arnold Palmer.  The next year, he was asked to carve Muzzleloader Pistols for Mr. Palmer.

Jack worked at Cotton Chemical of Cleveland and Ridgway Color & Chemical.  He worked in the Laboratory of Research and Development for thirty four years.

Jack is survived by: his wife Mary Jo; a daughter, Jackie (Faisal) El-Awar; a son, John J. McKnight, Jr. and family friend Barry Rudasil; three grandchildren, Paul, T.J. (Erica) and Michael (Stephanie) Costanzo; three great-grandchildren, Louie, Hudson Joe and Rosie Costanzo; and a sister, Mary Lou Herzing.

Along with his parents, Jack was preceded in death by: two sisters, Patty Donivan and Peg Bauer.

There will be no visitation.

Mass of Christian burial will be held 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at St. Marys Catholic Church of St. Marys, PA.

Burial will take place in St. Michael’s Cemetery of DuBois, PA.

The family suggests memorials to any Veterans Organization, St. Marys Catholic Church or Penn Highlands Community Nurses-Hospice and will be accepting online condolences at www.nedzafamilyfuneralhomes.com.

The Leo Nedza Funeral Home of DuBois has been entrusted with final arrangements.

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