John R. Knox

John Randall Knox, 84, of Delton, Michigan passed away on October 18, 2015.

John R. Knox was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 11, 1931. He graduated from Loomis Chaffee School and continued on to receive both a bachelor’s degree Civil Engineering and a master’s degree in Structural Engineering from Yale University. 

After 21 years in the Navy’s Seabees unit, including active duty stationed at the Panama Canal Zone and work at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, John retired with the rank of Commander.  As Executive VP and COO of the Industrial Sand Division at Martin Marietta Aggregates, John relocated to the Midwest.  After leaving Martin Marietta, he started a successful business selling farm equipment and implements.  He returned to the engineering field, retiring from Hydro Environmental Technologies out of Syracuse, NY and moved to southern Michigan.  During his life, John was an avid sailor, sailing on Long Island Sound and the Atlantic aboard his 42 ft. yawl, Corinthia. He was a middle crew rower for Yale as well as a member of the Yale Hockey team.  John also excelled as an equestrian and skier into the later years of his life.  As always, applying his core value of “hard work”, he remained busy on his small horse farm and volunteered his time. John was actively involved with Shepard’s Center of Kalamazoo, his church, and the Battle Creek Hunt Club. 

 John is survived by his wife of 43 Years, Susan; sister Ellen; children Beth (Bill), Randy (Barb), Kay (Brian) and Sam; grandchildren Matthew, Ryan, David (Jana), Faith and Lark; step-children Mark, Lisa (Bill), Paige (Jeff), Wendy (Jon), and Curtis (Suzy); step-grandchildren Tyler (Karen), Evan, Alex, Danielle, and Andrei.  John is preceded in death by his parents John and Lucy, sister Alison and granddaughter Alison.

 A memorial service will be announced at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Shepard’s Center of Kalamazoo, 1833 South Burdick Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49008 or First Presbyterian Church of Richland, 8047 Church Street, Richland, MI 49083.  

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