Ellen Beth Knollenberg

Ellen B. Schrader Knollenberg passed away on September 1, 2026, in Birmingham, Alabama. She was born on June 27, 1945, to Robert E. and Cathryn C. Schrader and grew up in Champaign, Illinois. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University.

Ellen married Walt Knollenberg on January 27, 1968, beginning a life together filled with family, friendship, travel and adventure. During their marriage, they moved more than 20 times, and Ellen had a gift for making each new place feel like home. Wherever they lived, she became involved in churches, schools and community organizations while forming friendships that lasted throughout her life. The family’s three years in Australia remained an especially treasured chapter.

Ellen was a devoted mother to Gregory Knollenberg, Erik Knollenberg and Rebecca Tart (Casey), and a loving “Mema” to Colin, Audrey and Sophia Tart. Being a grandmother brought her great joy, and she loved spending time with her family playing cards and board games, working puzzles, celebrating holidays and traveling together.

Primarily a stay-at-home mother while raising her children, Ellen was active in their schools and served as PTO president at Bemis Elementary School in Troy, Michigan. She later worked as a preschool teacher at Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem, where she enjoyed teaching 3- and 4-year-olds. Faith remained important throughout her life, and she became involved in a church community wherever the family lived.

Ellen loved traveling with Walt throughout the United States and around the world. She also enjoyed golf, entertaining, puzzles, games and time with longtime friends. Christmas held a special place in her heart, beginning with childhood winters spent helping with her family’s Christmas-tree business and continuing through the many years she hosted family celebrations filled with decorations, baking and treasured traditions.

Ellen is survived by her husband, Walt; her children, Greg, Erik and Rebecca (Casey); her grandchildren, Colin, Audrey and Sophia; her sister, Alice; her brother, Tim; and their children and grandchildren. She will be remembered for her devotion to family, her enduring friendships and her remarkable ability to create a welcoming home wherever life took her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ellen's honor to Asbury United Methodist Church or to the Alzheimer's Association, Alabama Chapter: https://www.alz.org/al.

A visitation will be held Monday, September 14, 2026 from 11:00-12:00 pm with a service following at 12:00 pm at Southern Heritage Funeral Home, 475 Cahaba Valley Rd, Pelham, AL 35124.

View livestream here: https://player.memoryshare.com/video/ellenbeth-knollenberg-pelham-al