- Date Of Birth: January 31, 1935
- Date Of Death: May 17, 2011
- State: Illinois
Lona P. Kniskern, 76, of Freeport, died Tuesday, May 17, 2011, at FHN Memorial Hospital.
Born in Chicago on January 31, 1935, she was the adopted daughter of Helen and Nevin Slamp. She graduated from Freeport Senior High School in 1953, and went on to study at Carroll College in Wisconsin where she met, and married Philip W. Kniskern on July 10, 1954.Lona was Executive Director of the Stephenson County Senior Center from 1977 until her retirement in 2007.
She was immensely proud of the services the Center provides, and truly grateful for the staff and many volunteers who helped it become an award-winning agency. Her commitment to United Way was second only to her commitment to the Center. During her years leading the Center as a United Way Member Agency, she always championed the United Way (UW), speaking at campaign events, supporting other UW events, serving on UW committees and being first in line to assist UW in any way she could. Lona started as a self-employed piano teacher giving lessons in her home.A member of Embury United Methodist Church, she lived her love for music as both a member and director of the choirs for many years.
She was a delegate to the Illinois White House Conferences on Aging, Libraries and Information Services. Through the years she volunteered for the PTA, Pretzel Band Boosters, Community Concert Association, Project Headstart, Embury United Methodist Church, and was a Pink Lady for Freeport Memorial Hospital.
Lona received many personal and agency-related honors including the 1999 Freeport YWCA Women of Excellence Jean Johnson Farrar Social Service award, the 1996 Sid Granet Aging Network Achievement Award for an Individual, the 1991 Veterans of Foreign Wars Citation for Patriotic Service to the Community, the 1999 Governor’s Unique Achievement Award for the Elder Abuse Unit, the 1996 Outstanding Illinois Senior Center from the Association of Illinois Senior Centers, the 1991 Illinois Department of Rehabilitative Services Director’s Award, and the 1988 Community Achievement Award from the Illinois Department on Aging. Upon her retirement, her many contributions and accomplishments were recognized with resolutions passed by the State of Illinois 95th General Assembly, and the Freeport City Council. Lona’s current affiliations included member and past president of the Northwest Illinois Regional Health Plan Board of Directors, Freeport Kiwanis Club, and FEMA local board. Lona loved to gather and bind her memories in the form of photos, genealogies, notes and lists.
She enjoyed concerts, plays, amateur photography, cross stitch, reading, but mostly being around people, especially her family and grandchildren Zoe and Jared. In her own words, she reveals the love she had for family, friends and those she served – “It is a precious gift to work with people. Kind words, expressions of gratitude, smiles, knowing we made a difference for good in a person’s life – it doesn’t get better than that.
“Surviving is her husband, Phil of Freeport; 2 sons, Peter W. (Laura) Kniskern of South Beloit, IL; and Paul W. (Judy) Kniskern of Springfield, MA; 2 grandchildren, Jared Herbig of DeKalb and Zoe Kniskern of Springfield, MA.She was preceded in death by her parents and brother.
