Della Knowles
June 11, 1934 - July 27, 2015
Obituary
Della Mae Knowles, 81, of Lancaster, joined her husband in heaven on July 27, 2015. Private family visitation will be at Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, 1245 N. Water St., Platteville, WI. Funeral rites will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 30, 2015 at River Hills Memorial Park Chapel and Mausoleum, 1650 S. River St., Batavia, IL. Rev. Kimberly Riebe will officiate. Visitation at the gravesite is welcome. A luncheon will follow. The Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.
She was born on June 11, 1934 in Aurora, IL, the daughter of George Paul Hawkinson and Emma Bernadina (Andrews) Hawkinson. On June 12, 1954 she married Frederick Everett Knowles in Batavia, IL. They celebrated 60 years of marriage. He preceded her in death on December 25, 2014.
Della grew up in North Aurora. She attended North Aurora Grade School and graduated from West Aurora High School. She was employed as a secretary by Moosehart prior to raising her four children. Later, she was employed by Farmers Insurance as a secretary until her retirement. Family was the center of her life and she cherished family gatherings. She and Fred also enjoyed many journeys across the U.S. to visit friends and family. She remained close to her high school friends and looked forward to their monthly nights together.
Della is survived by sisters, Carolyn Ohman (Tom) of Marco Island, FL; Mary Noble (Vince) of Bauxite, AR; daughters, Nanette Hitchins (fiancé Joseph Dolphin) of Platteville, WI; Lynette Knowles of Carbondale, IL; Donna Schroeder (Gerry) of Bloomington, IL; son, Frederick Knowles, Jr. (Debbie) of Pearland, TX; grandchildren, Emily Pritzl (Lee) of Chippewa Falls, WI; Jim Hitchins (Cheryl) of Madison, WI; Elise Schroeder of Bloomington, IL; Patrick Schroeder of Bloomington; Ben Knowles of Aurora, IL; great-grandchildren, Krystal, Ashley, and Rebecca Yoshino of Chippewa Falls; Jason and Jake Pritzl of Chippewa Falls. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Donald Hawkinson; and son-in-law, David Hitchins.