LEWIS EDWARD KNECHT

Longtime Alaska resident Lewis E. Knecht, 70, died Sunday, May 11, 2003, at home. Services were held at Valley Memorial Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 14, at 4 p.m.

Mr. Knecht was born July 8, 1932, in Stoutsville, Ohio.

Mr. Knecht was decorated for Valor numerous times while in service of his country with the U.S. Army for 24 years. He was stationed at Ft. Richardson in 1968 and moved his family to Alaska and has been a resident since that time.

After military tours in Okinawa, Japan, Korea and Vietnam, he retired from military service and settled in Wasilla, where he started Buckeye Transit.

He was a life member of the American Legion and VFW.

His parents, Daniel and Esther Knecht, preceded Mr. Knecht in death.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy Knecht of Wasilla; brother Gary Knecht of Anchorage; sisters, Mona Jean Hummel, Mary Lou Strawser and Sharon Bosworth of Chillicothe, Ohio; daughter and son-in-law Koren and Mark Crosby of Alpine, Utah; sons and daughters-in-law, Daniel and Judy Knecht of Anchorage, Ken and Kelly Knecht of Eagle River, Chuck and Susan Knecht of Eagle River, Paul and Elizabeth Knecht of Wasilla; son Douglas Wayne Knecht of Seattle, Wash.; step-children, Wilburn and Fely Privett of Anchorage, Douglas Privett and Teena Brown of Wasilla, Laura Privett of Valdez, Bruce Privett of Valdez, Julie Privett of San Francisco, ex-daughter-in-law Tammy Smith of Wasilla; and 18 grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers or other remembrances, the family requests donations be made to Valley Hospice at 3051 East Palmer-Wasilla Highway, Wasilla AK 99654-7234.

Arrangements were made by Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla.