Clare Knechtel

Peacefully on Friday, February 21^st 2025, with loving family by his side, Clare passed after challenging his Parkinson’s diagnosis for almost two decades. He was exceptionally cared for and comfortable in his final days, thanks to the incredible team at St. Joseph’s Hospice in London, Ontario.

He was a loving husband and best friend to his wife Carole. Supportive father to Patti (Steve), Dave (Danica), passionate cheerleader to his five grandchildren: Jamie, Jeff (Caroline), Joe (Robyn), Brayden, and Heidi (Theo), and recent great-grandfather to Wyatt Clare, who he met briefly but loved without having to say a word. Friend to his brother and sister-in-law Elizabeth and John Thomas, and Ed Thomas.  He was predeceased by his parents, Harold and Beatrice Knechtel, brother Bob, as well as parents-in-law Earl and Marie Thomas and brother-in-law Jim Thomas.

Born in a one-room log cabin on March 20th, 1940 in Embro, Ontario to humble beginnings, Clare’s early years involved life on the farm after his family moved to Stratford, Ontario where he grew up and attended elementary school before moving to London. There he walked the halls of South Collegiate and attending a dance in the gymnasium one night, he met his love Carole.

During these years an exceptional hockey career was blossoming. Seeing success playing for the Sarnia Legionnaires and St. Catharines Teepee’s, an invitation to the Chicago Black Hawks training camp came calling. Deciding other work was more enticing, he began a job at Time Glass in Sarnia, Ontario where his passion for windows was born. After leading the Robert Hunt Corporation until 1981, he then created his own lane in the industry founding Knechtel Millwork Limited (KML). With Carole working alongside him at the office and despite the 1981 recession, over the next 20 years KML’s success soared to have over 450 employees before eventually selling to Anderson Window Corporation in 2001, where original KML workers still talk about him today.

Over this time, Clare was recognized as an Industry Pioneer by the Canadian Window and Door Association and received the Loewen Award for his outstanding service to the window and door industry, all while sitting on the Board of Directors for the US Window and Door Association.

In his personal life he committed to being a big part of Patti and Dave’s lives. Through their childhood and working together at KML, Patti and Dave absorbed Clare’s insights as he taught them how to move through the world and succeed. He was always there for support and ensuring fun was had with any of his free time. Family Vacations, time off, and eventually retirement was spent in Florida enjoying Disney, playing in heated family mixed doubles tennis matches, and sharpening his already strong golf game.

Bringing more joy to his life were his five grandchildren.  Clare showed love with countless rides to hockey games, football games, ski and snowboard hills, school events and drives into school on snow days (to his grandchildren’s disappointment). He was always there to lend a hand to them all and loudly outcheering other grandparents from the sidelines. At his home in Lambeth he loved spending time with his grandchildren splashing in the pool, riding the Gator, fishing in the pond, and driving golf balls into Greenhills. In Winters at Blue Mountain, one of his favourite getaways, he’d even challenge himself racing them to the bottom.

In 2006, Clare received a Parkinson’s diagnosis and decided it would never stop him. With help from Lea, he challenged Parkinson’s physical demands daily. With help from Cleveland Clinic and London Health Sciences contributing as a movement and memory research study subject, he challenged Parkinson’s for the future. With help from his team of angels: Janice, Paul, Grace, Necy, Savi, and Sonia he continued to challenge Parkinson’s until the very end.

Clare was a mentor to many from all walks of life, donated to numerous causes he cared for, and most importantly gave his time. Over 84 years the world is a better place having had Clare in it and though we can’t create new memories with him, we treasure the ones made together.

Visitation will be held at Westview Funeral Chapel, 709 Wonderland Road North, London on Monday, February 24, 2025 from 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 p.m., where a funeral service will be conducted on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.

Donations in memory of Clare to Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario, St. Joseph’s Hospice of London or BGC London would be greatly appreciated.