- Date Of Birth: December 22, 1946
- Date Of Death: December 14, 2021
- State: Utah
Our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Michael Joseph Knowles, returned with honor to his heavenly home December 14, 2021, during his favorite time of year, Christmas. He was born December 22, 1946, in Ogden, Utah, to Kenneth Baugh Knowles and Helen Gladys Pearce.
Raised in Ogden, Michael graduated from Ogden High in 1965. He served in the Central British Mission in England (1967-69), sharing music and testimony, as a member of the singing Missionaries. He graduated with a BA in business from Weber State. He won churchwide singing competitions with his small singing group, consisting mainly of family members. While in Institute Chorale at Weber State, he met Karen Probst, and they were married in 1970 (later divorced). They had 6 children who were his pride and joy.
His career began with the IRS in Personnel, living in the North Hollywood, California area for 3 years in the early 70s. He relocated in 1974 to West Valley City to work in the IRS center in Salt Lake. Then, in 1978, Michael took a job with the IRS in Ogden, moving his family to Sunset. Shortly after, he took a job at Hill Air Force Base working as a Staffing and Personnel Specialist until his retirement in 2006.
On February 14, 1991, he married his eternal sweetheart, Peggy Code, in the Salt Lake Temple. He embraced her 4 children as his own, and she joined him in helping to raise his children. In 1999, they moved from Sunset to Clinton, and upon retirement relocated to sunny Arizona. Although the family curse of Alzheimer’s came on strong 2 years ago, Peggy, assisted by her son Kenny and cousin John, have lovingly cared for Dad. He spent the last 4 months in the Crescent Nursing Home in Surprise, Arizona. We are grateful to the wonderful staff there, especially a nurse, Raquel Roberts, an angel who tenderly loved and cared for him literally until his last breath.
Dad came from a very musical family. He loved his record, tape, and CD collections and was always looking for the latest speakers to enhance his sound system. While at Mount Ogden Junior High, he took up the baritone, but soon after switched to the trombone, beginning a lifetime love of his beloved trombone.
Mike joined the Army Reserves from 1972 until 1975, where he had the opportunity to join Utah National Guard’s 23rd Army Band as trombonist. He loved the band, band music, and his bandmates. Playing in the band afforded him many opportunities–playing locally, throughout Utah, and St. Petersburg, Russia in 1992. There, the band served as musical ambassadors. His family has countless memories listening to him perform at hundreds of performances at Temple Square, parades, Lagoon, etc.
Music of all kinds was his passion. He loved to direct music and led many church choirs, directing his beloved Sunset 5th ward in “The Hallelujah Chorus” one Christmas. He was always waving his arm to lead music, even when there was none. Peggy would ask where the music was, and he’d reply, “It’s in my head!” Even with Alzheimer’s, he could lead and sing all the music he had come to know intimately throughout his life until the very end.
Above all, Michael had a love of the Lord and His Church. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many different callings, including Elder’s Quorum President, bishoprics, Stake Clerk, High Priest Group Leader, music callings, and as an ordinance worker in the Gilbert, Arizona Temple. He had a steadfast testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, even through many difficult and challenging experiences, including losing his dad when he was 12 to a sudden heart attack, and losing his two beloved sons, Stephen and Brian. He never wavered in his trust in, and devotion to the Lord.
He was happiest when surrounded by his family, participating in sports, traveling, or camping. Mirror Lake and climbing Bald Mountain–even half carrying his wife Peggy to the top–are favorite family memories! He delighted his wife, children, and grandchildren with his goofy sense of humor and fun personality. He was a teddy bear. He loved his children and grandchildren and would enthusiastically speak about their activities and accomplishments with glowing pride. After relocating to Arizona, he counted down the days till the next visit from his family or his next trip to Utah. He lived for his Christmas visits to Utah.
His wife, Peggy, feels privileged to have married one whom she considered to be a near-perfect man. He was kind and gentle with character and integrity, and a Christ-like Spirit. Yes, we will miss him, but we know he is in the arms of His Savior, whole again, reunited with his beloved sons and family members. We know he will never be far from us.
He is survived by his wife, Peggy Knowles; his siblings Darrell (Cindy) Knowles and Kathie Trulson, and his sister-in-law Colleen Knowles; his daughters Christine (David) Monson, Sherri (Steve) Brown, Amy (Jake) Alvord, and Lisa (Shane) Munns; Peggy’s children Kenny Ingram, Michael (Susan) Ingram, Cari Farr and Kim (Clint) Howard, 26 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sons Stephen Michael Knowles and Brian Joseph Knowles; his parents Kenneth and Helen Knowles; his brothers Boyd and Ray Knowles and sisters Marilyn Knowles and Eleanor Knowles Laney, Jeri Jones. Special thanks go to the Crescent Assisted Living and Hospice in Surprise, Arizona, for their loving care for Michael in the last months of his life.
