Russell Knaack

Russell Irving Knaack, 94, passed away on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 surrounded by his family. Russ was born on May 7, 1932 in Neenah, Wisconsin to Walter and Viola (Baer) Knaack. He graduated from Neenah High School in 1950 and married Geraldine “Gerry” Ellen Hearden in Menasha on June 16, 1956. They were married for 60 years, until her passing in 2016.

Russ worked for Kimberly-Clark in Neenah for 39 and a half years until he retired in 1990. He was a member of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Neenah.

Russ loved his westerns, especially John Wayne, with an impressive wall of western-related pictures adorning his dining room walls. He was a ruthless opponent at cards: cribbage and kitchen poker alike, and if you walked in his house chances are you’d find him at the table with a worn out deck of cards, contentedly playing solitaire while his chaotic family grew up all around him. He also enjoyed a trip or two (or two hundred) to the casino, and proudly traveled all over the United States. When the weather was fit (or even when it wasn’t), Russ was outdoors—he spent a lifetime tending to his beautiful garden and enjoying its spoils from the back porch. He also had an insatiable sweet tooth—there were always sweets to be found at Russ’s house, many of them homemade. Russ had an infectious laugh that his family fondly called the “Russell chuckle,” which would never fail to put smiles on the faces of those who heard it.

Russ is survived by his three children: Diane (Douglas) Dickson of Oshkosh, Jeanne Egan of San Dimas, Calif., and John Knaack of Fox Crossing; his eight grandchildren: Heather (Carol) Munroe of Port Washington, Jamie Sabo of San Dimas, Calif., Jessica (Alexandre) Montes of Goleta, Calif., Josephine Egan (Justin Graza) of LaVerne, Calif., John (Samantha) Egan of Garden City, Kan., Justin (Lexi) Knaack of Sobieski, Dalton Knaack (Kendall Bates) of Cecil, and Colton Knaack (Lindsey Grasse) of Green Bay; and eight great-grandchildren: Damien, Alexander, Zeno, Corra, Ezekiel, Addilie, Brantley, and brand new great-grandson Koby, born November 2, 2026, with another great-grandson arriving in April 2027. Russ is further survived by his brother Dale “Butch” (Barbara) Knaack, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Russ was preceded in death by his wife, Gerry, and four siblings: Vivian (Paul) Kostuch, Vernon (Nancy) Knaack, Walter (Eileen) Knaack Jr., and Shirley (Frank) Sweetalla.

Visitation will be held at Westgor Funeral Home at 205 W. Doty Avenue in Neenah on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services for Russ will be held at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church at 620 Division Street in Neenah on Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. and lunch following the service at approximately noon. Russ will be interred at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Neenah.

Russ’s family would like to thank the wonderful care professionals at Senior Stride Fox Cities, BrightStar Care of Appleton, Moments Hospice, and Silverstone Memory Care Grand Chute for their dedication and compassion.