James Martin Knoll

May 11, 1928 - September 1, 2019

James (Jim) Martin Knoll, 91, of Novi, Michigan died peacefully September 1, 2019 at Angela Hospice Care Facility. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, September 16, 2019, 10:00 am at Our Lady of Sorrows Church 23815 Power Road, Farmington, MI 48336. Visitation at the church begins at 9:30 am. Jim was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle, and good friend to many. Dear husband of the late Mary, with whom he had shared a 57-year strong marriage. Loving father of the late Timothy, Kathleen Horgan (Daniel), James, Ruth Stanski (Jon), Christopher (Andrea), Maureen Krasner (Charles). Adoring and proud grandfather of 13 and great grandfather of 10. Beloved son of the late Catherine and the late Phillip Martin. Loving brother of William (Davota), the late Edward, Donna Geizyng (Don), Jane DesRosiers, Patricia, Phillip (Nancy). Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Jim greatly enjoyed life and time with family members and friends. He was a devout Catholic and through the years was a parishioner of St. Peter the Apostle Church (Harper Woods), Gesu Church (Detroit), and Our Lady of Sorrows Church (Farmington Hills). Jim adored his wife Mary and together they made a wonderful life for themselves and their 6 children and their families, with strong roots and rich traditions. Throughout his life Jim was kind, humble, respectful, inclusive, and always kept a positive outlook. He was deeply committed to family, making sure that all knew of his support to follow their dreams and be happy. Originally from Monesson Pennsylvania Jim came to Michigan on his own as a teen and graduated from Detroit Eastern High School. He proudly served in the US Marine Corps and went on to achieve an engineering degree from the Detroit Institute of Technology. Jim enjoyed a long and successful career at Chrysler Corporation in Brake Development in Highland Park and at Trenton Chemical, where he worked with a team to develop the innovative phenolic caliper piston, tested brake system, and mentored many newer engineers. Jim loved traveling and treasured the memories of family camping trips in the outdoors and frequent vacations to Disneyworld, as well as many lobsters in Southwest Harbor, Maine with his wife Mary, his children and their spouses and most of all beloved grandchildren. He also greatly enjoyed spending many winters in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Jim savored trips to Germany, and all over the United States for many family vacations, trips with friends, and business trips testing brakes. Jim always enjoyed watching sports, particularly the Detroit Tigers, including his final days where he continued to display his positive attitude even in a challenging baseball year. Jim and his wife Mary made their homes warm and welcoming through the years in Harper Woods, Detroit, and Farmington Hills. Jim proudly spent the past 8 years at Fox Run in Novi, on his own. At Fox Run Jim deeply appreciated the camaraderie of friends—caring for each other, playing cards, participating in various clubs, and countless conversations, happy hours, and dinners shared. Those times along with respectful and caring relationships with Fox Run staff made Jim’s last years another great chapter in a wonderful life. A special 'Thank You' to all the doctors, nurses, therapists, and devoted caregivers throughout the past year who worked with and supported Jim, helping him to manage his health and maintain independance. Also, ‘Thank you’ to Angela Hospice for making the final days both comfortable and peaceful. In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Jim may be made to: Angela Hospiceclick here to contribute Capuchin Soup Kitchenclick here to contrbute