Daniel Knaak

A celebration of Daniel’s life will be held at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, 1 N Mullet Street, Dunkirk NY, on Saturday January 11th from 5pm to 7pm.

He is survived by his wife, Grace; children, Kathleen Knaak and Geoffrey Daniel Knaak (Silvia Espinoza); grandchildren, Aaron Cole (Amanda McNally), Benjamin Cole, Victor Daniel Knaak-Espinoza, Brissa Valentina Gomez Espinoza, Julio Cesar Gomez Espinoza; brother, Edward Knaak (Lorry); sister, Marilyn Owens (Michael); sister-in-law, Julie Hutchings; several nieces and nephews.

Dan married Grace, the love of his life, August 30th 1969. He was a social studies teacher for more than 30 years, retiring from the Dunkirk Public School District in 1997. He and Grace traveled extensively throughout the US and Canada (he often mentioned that he had visited almost every major city in Canada) and were able to go to Europe on several occasions enjoying the sights in Paris, London, Venice, Rome, Florence, Barcelona and Madrid among others. For many years, they also made an annual trip to New York City, taking in Broadway plays and musicals and enjoying a variety of different cuisines. When he was at home, Dan attended to the indoor cats and outdoor wildlife, taking great care to ensure that all the neighborhood birds and squirrels were well fed. Dan was an avid music lover, amassing a collection of 1000s of albums and CDs during his lifetime; his musical tastes ranged from Opera to Rock, and nearly everything in between.

Contributions may be made to an animal shelter of your choice in Dan’s memory.