Obituary of Henry Knotek

Henry Knotek, a retired barrister and long-time resident of Gananoque, Ont., died unexpectedly, yet peacefully, on March 29, 2015 at the age of 76 while visiting his beloved son and family in Toronto. Henry is survived by his wife, Jane Knotek (nee Lynch); his son, John Knotek; his daughter-in-law, Nicolette Knotek; and his much-loved grandchildren, Mason and Pierson. He is predeceased by his parents, Jacob and Frances Knotek, and survived by his sisters, Frances Robinson and Agnes Cunningham and many nieces and nephews. Born on July 11, 1938, in Kingston, Ont., Henry was the eldest of three children. He attended Regiopolis College and then Queen's University where he graduated with a law degree in 1963. He was called to the Bar in 1965 and, later, opened a private practice. On October 12, 1963, he married Jane Lynch, a nurse, and in his words "a beautiful farm girl from Escott". On June 13, 1971, the couple welcomed the birth of their long-awaited son, John Henry, who was the most celebrated part of Henry's life. Henry was a generous and devoted father, grandfather and husband. He was an active member of the community for many years, serving as a member of the Board of Trustees, the Town Council, the Lion's Club and the Legion. He participated in countless Fisherman's Bonspiels and loved fishing expeditions with his son at Lamb Lake and other northern and western destinations. Most importantly, Henry treasured time spent with his family. He will be deeply missed. A funeral mass is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on April 6, 2015 at St. John's Evangelist Church in Gananoque. Father Sebastian Amato will officiate. Memorial donations can be made to the St. John's Restoration Fund (stjohnsgananoque.ca) or Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust (tiwlt.ca) to preserve Old Baldy on Charleston Lake.