A Rite of Christian Burial for Josef R. Knox will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 7, 2017 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 4957 E. Highway 61, Hovland.
Born November 6, 1948, in Minneapolis to Charles and Isabella Knox, Jo left home for San Diego in his teens. Returning to Minneapolis, he obtained an associate degree in commercial art, which became his employment and enduring personal interest. A photographer for General Mills, he also had assignments for National Geographic. In woodworking he restored antiques and Minneapolis Basilica carvings; an accomplished guitarist he built custom guitars and harpsichords. In 1987 he opened Whittle Works studio in Glen, Minnesota, designing, handcrafting and selling Germanstyle Christmas toys which customers from around the world enjoyed. He later taught woodworking at his Hovland studio.
In 1968 he was baptized in a Lutheran church. Later that year he entered the Army and served in Vietnam, often saying it was only by God’s help that he made it through the ordeal and aftermath. His experience made him determined to help others. In his parents’ last years he cared for them in their home. While living in Hovland, he worked to develop a consumer protection nonprofit, Arrowhead Consumer’s Union. He joined the Hovland Volunteer Fire Department, and while health difficulties made it difficult to be active, he supported their vital role. Jo had plans to help develop housing for low-income families.
In 2003 God gave Jo the gift of meeting “his angel” Barbara Wiltz. Married in 2004 they moved to Hovland, built their dream house, kayaked, skied, made friends, and hosted AFS students from Germany and Norway.
With his beloved Barb, Jo shared humor, strong social concerns, and love of nature, artistry, music, pets, and especially faith in God. Though in the hospital, he made sure to cast his ballot in the 2016 election. Jo died on December 1 at Essentia-St. Mary’s in Duluth, after several weeks of skilled and caring support. He is greatly missed by Barb and his many friends.
Jo is preceded in death by his parents and “special grandma” that he remembered with great affection, Barb, her daughters, and grandson Leo of Chicago, who survive him.
Cards of sympathy are requested to Barb Wiltz, P.O. Box 178, Hovland, MN. 55606. We thank God for Jo’s life. Memorials preferred to Trinity Lutheran, P.O. Box 188, Hovland 55606 or Animal Allies, 4006 Airport Road, Duluth, MN 55811 where they adopted many pets.
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