Patricia Jean (Serie) Knikelbine, age 79, passed away on Friday, August 2, 2019 at Country Home in Pullman. Pat was born in Hamilton, MI to the late Leonard and Louise (Meulenbelt) Serie. She married Gus Knikelbine on September 28, 1957 and they would have celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary this year. Pat worked for a few years in factories before changing careers to raise pigs on the farm with her husband. She became Deputy Treasurer of Saugatuck Township and later would hold the title of Saugatuck Township Treasurer, a position she proudly held for more than twenty years before her retirement.
After retirement she enjoyed working on the farm and in her yard tending to her flowers. She spent summer holidays camping with her husband, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved to travel and she and Gus would once or twice a year take a day trip to Shipshewana for lunch. Momma Pat cherished every moment she got to spend with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was very excited about the upcoming birth of her tenth great-grandchild.
Pat is survived by her children, Deb Knikelbine and John Knikelbine; grandchildren, Aaron (Emily) Wilkinson, Kristina (Jeff) Evanauski, Regan (Jason) Vicari, Jimilee Reed, and Amanda (Nathan) Leslie; nine great-grandchildren; sister, Lynn (Paul) Bouman; sisters-in-law, Gladys Serie and Betty Boeskool; and several nieces and nephews.
Along with her parents, Leonard and Louise, and her husband, Gus, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Willard “Bill” and James Serie; grandson, Joshua Knikelbine; and daughter-in-law, Terrie Knikelbine.
A private graveside service will be held for Pat at a later date.
A celebration of life for Gus and Pat is tentatively planned for September 28, 2019, which would have been their 62nd wedding anniversary. Details will be released soon.
Because Pat enjoyed attending the band concerts of her great-granddaughters, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to be made to Fennville Public Schools Band Program, 5 Memorial Drive, Fennville, Michigan, 49408.
