Irene Betty Knouff passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 11, at the age of 100 and a half–we include the half because at that age every day counts.
Born in Seymour, Missouri, in 1922, Irene and her twin sister, Christine, were the youngest of 12 children born to Margaret and Bert Plaster.
Irene, like her mother, knew no strangers and in her 36 years of living in Moab acquired many good friends, all with a funny story or two to tell about her. She was quick-witted and had a real love of life. She loved people, the more the better. When our family had a hotel she would literally pull people from the street to come in and see the place and then try to feed them. She loved music of all kinds and if you walked anywhere near her while music was playing she would grab you and make you dance with her. When she wasn’t dancing, she was whistling. She was always busy doing for others.
In the last 6 years of her life, she was lovingly cared for by the fine people at the Canyonlands Care Center who always treated her with love and respect and made her feel like family–which in turn made her feel like she could boss them around, in a nice way of course.
Irene had seven children, and is survived by six of them. They are Sharon Holck, Kay Knouff, Donna Oreno, Tim Knouff, Becky Knouff, Randy Knouff, who preceded her in death; and Terry Knouff. She had 10 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren.
You may send condolences to the family at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com.
