Melvin L Knollman

Melvin L. Knollman, 86, of Rock Island, IL, passed away Wednesday, November 26, 2014, at the University Of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, following a sudden illness. A visitation will be held Monday, December 1st, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., at Wendt Funeral Home in Moline, IL. Services will be Tuesday, December 2nd, at 10:30 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 777 – 25th Avenue, East Moline, IL. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Rock Island. Memorials may be made to the church. Mel was born June 1, 1928, in Evansville, IN, to Louis and Edna (Winternheimer) Knollman. He graduated from Wadesville, IN High School in 1946, and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950 to 1954, stationed in Germany for three years. He then worked at the Chrysler Assembly Plant in Evansville. He married Betty Edwards on December 3, 1955, in McLeansboro, IL. Following his graduation from Lane Technical Institute in Evansville, he was employed at John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline, retiring as a Senior Product Designer, on November 30, 1984. After retirement, he worked as a drive r for Greater Quad City Auto Auction. Mel belonged to First Presbyterian Church in East Moline, for over 50 years, serving as Elder, Trustee, Deacon, and Clerk of Session. Also, he was a long-time member of the Quad City Antique Auto Club. He loved collecting antique cars and attending car shows, following his grandson’s sports and marching band activities, and was thrilled to go on the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. on September 18, 2014. He also visited every state except Hawaii, and was a St. Louis Cardinals fan. Survivors include Betty, his wife of 59 years; his daughter Brenda (John) Turnbull of Rock Island; grandson Jordan Turnbull, a student at Iowa State University at Ames; brother Fred (Carol) Knollman of Newburgh, IN; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister Cathryn Jane Lamb; and a nephew Rick Myers.

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