Jackie Lee Knolle

Jackie Lee Knolle was born in Temple, Texas on Oct 9th,1929 to Dr. Otto Jack and Leona Knolle. The same month as the great stock market crash. Jackie lived the first eight years of her life in La Grange, Texas. She moved with her younger sister, June to Houston in 1938 where they were raised solely by their mother. Jackie later attended the University of Texas at Austin studying Elementary Education. She moved back to Houston and married Donald N. Kahn in 1951. Together they had three children Don, Tracey and Alison. In addition to raising three children Jackie was a businesswoman. She owned and managed two apartment complexes.

Jackie loved to travel. She had fun on the many chartered bus trips across the US and Canada with a women’s traveling group known as the Yellow Roses. She spent many summers in Colorado with family and her second husband Richard Nicosia. Jackie said the time she got to spend in Colorado was some of the best years of her life. Her bicycle rides around Lake Dillon were her favorite.

Jackie was never one to sit for very long. She was wired for constant motion. Her love of sports and exercise were a large part of her life. Jackie received her first tricycle at the age of three. Soon after, her mother got a phone call stating, Jackie was out of the house and peddling her tricycle on the sidewalk headed for downtown Houston. Jackie was also an accomplished tennis player, having played for many years at the Houston Racquet Club. Dancing was also a passion along with swimming, water skiing and taking long walks.

Her friends and family were the most important part of her life. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother. She cherished the time she got to spend with them whenever they were able to come to Houston, or she was able to get out of town and visit them. Later in life it became necessary for Jackie to move from Houston to Austin to be closer to family. She hated to leave her many friends behind but accepted it. Her most prized possession when she left Houston were her two rather large black address books. Both were filled in completely with everyone’s telephone numbers and addresses. Those two books were never out of her reach.

Preceded by her father Dr. Otto Jack Knolle and her mother Leona Knolle

She is survived by sister, June Knolle Levy, son, Don N. Kahn Jr., daughters, Tracey Kahn-Jones, Alison Kahn, son in laws are Dennis Jones married to Tracey Kahn-Jones, her second son in law is Don Chappell married to Alison Kahn, grandchildren are Rachel Pelayo, Dylan Chappell, and Matthew Jones

Numerous of great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Her last few years of life were a challenge because she had always been independent, however she handled it with grace. Her entire family is forever grateful to the many wonderful caregivers along the way that helped take such good care of Jackie up until the end. On this fourth Sunday in August, it is my belief, Jackie decided it was time to keep on moving and that is exactly what she did. She moved on. We will miss her but rejoice in knowing that she still lives in the hearts and memories of those she loved and those who loved her.

Services will be a Private Family Celebration of Life in Austin, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like send donations to a charity of your choice in her honor.