Gladys Knickrehm

Gladys Mae Knickrehm, age 87, of Peotone, passed away on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at Miller Health Care Center in Kankakee.

She was born on May 6, 1928 in Manhattan, IL, the daughter of the late Fred and Minnie (Betttenhausen) Krapf. She married the late Kenneth H. Knickrehm on June 17, 1951 at the Green Garden United Methodist Church. He passed away on June 10, 1999. She was a sales associate at JCPenney for over 20 years. Gladys was an active member of the Immanuel United Church of Christ in Peotone, the church’s Women’s Fellowship, and the Peotone American Legion Auxiliary. She was an avid gardener, enjoyed painting, sewing, quilting, baking and crafts. Gladys especially enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s activities and sporting events. She also enjoyed watching sports, especially the Chicago Blackhawks.

Gladys is survived by her three children; Jeanine (Wayne) Koelling of Kankakee,

Shelia (Steve) Vining of Batavia, and Kevin (Cathi) Knickrehm of Oak Park; eight grandchildren, Greg (Carly) Koelling, Chad (Erica) Koelling, Jeff Koelling, Ashley (John) Sullivan, Kirsten (Kyle) Lee, Rachel (Jason) Busch, Monika Knickrehm, and Claudia Knickrehm; three great-grandchildren, Nate and Emma Koelling, and Emme Busch; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband; two brothers, Norman and Melvin Krapf; and two sisters, Elda Johnson and Verna Steinberg.

Visitation will be held at the Fedde-Helfrich-Cross Funeral Home on Sunday, April 24 from 2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the Immanuel United Church of Christ in Peotone on Monday, April 25 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be held at the church on Monday from 10:00-11:00 a.m. prior to the funeral service. Rev. Dwight Gorbold and Nancy Wheeler will officiate. Burial will be at Peotone Cemetery. Memorials to the family’s wishes would be appreciated. Pallbearers will be Chad Koelling, Greg Koelling, Jeff Koelling, Kyle Lee, Jason Busch, and John Sullivan.