Carol Helene Knecht

Carol recently celebrated her 102nd birthday at home living with her daughter Carolyn and son-in-law Pete Prader in Ukiah, California. She passed away at Ukiah Valley Medical Center on January 23rd with family at her bedside. She was the second of five children born to Ida and Ralph T. Cain in Pilger, Nebraska. Her childhood was spent growing up in Newman Grove and Fremont, Nebraska. Helping her parents at their family businesses as a young girl kept her busy prior to graduating from Fremont High School. Her working careers began immediately teaching eight grades for two years in a one-room schoolhouse heated in the winter with dried corncobs for fuel. She lived with a family in a soddie in the Sand Hills in Tryon, Nebraska while teaching. After teaching she attended and graduated from the University of Nebraska, School of Nursing specializing in obstetrics and the care of newborns and premature babies beginning in 1934. The new mothers would keep her updated with pictures of the preemies (as they were affectionately called) until they approached adulthood. She bonded beautifully with babies. Postgraduate courses followed at Philadelphia, Pa. specializing in Nurseries. She continued this career as charge nurse in Abington, Pa., San Rafael, Ca. and Tanner Hospital, Santa Rosa, Ca. until 1942.

Paul Knecht was introduced to her by one of her new mothers, Jane Knecht who later became her sister-in-law. Paul's mother, Elise, was also a patient of hers who she served a food tray one day to help out on another ward. Elise later that day told her son Paul of the beautiful brown-eyed nurse that he should meet. Paul and Carol married June 1942 in Santa Rosa, Ca at the Church Built From One Tree that now is at Julliard Park in Santa Rosa. Paul was an orchardist from a young life to the day of his passing in 1995 at age 91. They were married 53 years living in Windsor, Kelseyville, Santa Rosa and Red Bluff, Ca. where they raised their two children David and Carolyn. Their spare time was involved with Camp Fire Girls, 4-H, FFA, Farm Bureau and camping as a family. They spent their later years as active members of the Red Bluff Lapidarists for approximately 30 years, making lasting friends and traveling on Rock Hounding adventures. They enjoyed finding, gathering, making, showing and giving as gifts the cabochon jewelry they made together. Throughout her life she enjoyed needlework, crafts, lapidary, cooking, canning and caring for little ones. Days preceding her sudden illness she was actively helping with housework, dishes, shredding papers, and stringing beads for craft projects. She would beg for more work, her hands always needing something to do.

Predeceased by her siblings Frances Williams, Elizabeth McCardle, Millard Cain and Harlan Cain. Survived by son David and wife Karen of Grass Valley, Ca., daughter Carolyn and husband Pete Prader of Ukiah, Ca., grandchildren Angela Bartholomew, Anthony Knecht, Seann Rowlands and Janet Kennedy. She leaves many great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and one great-great-great grandson as well as many step grandchildren and their families. Five generations were in attendance for her 100th birthday.

Special thanks to the staff at Ukiah Valley Medical Center, Dr. Lynne Coen, caregivers Julie, Veronica and Teresa hold a special place in our hearts having blessed the family with their compassion and care of our mother.

Services will be on Saturday February 4, 2012 at the Chapel of the Flowers funeral home, visitation will be from 9am to 12pm and services beginning at 12 noon with the burial immediately following at Oak Hill Cemetery, just off Walnut St. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice or charity of your choice . On line condolences may be left at www.chapeloftheflowers.net.

Arrangements under the direction of Hoyt-Cole Chapel of the Flowers, 816 Walnut St. Red Bluff, CA 96080 (530) 527-1174

Published in Daily News from February 2 to February 3, 2012