Walter W. Knecht, 57, of Kankakee, Illinois, former Superintendent of the Kankakee schools, died March 3, 1973 in St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee. Services in the Asbury United Methodist Church in Kankakee.

He had retired in 1965 as Superintendent, for health reasons and had continued to serve as a High School Guidance Counselor and Coordinator of a work-study program.

A native of Troy, Illinois, he was born September 24, 1915 in Troy, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Knecht.

Survivors include his wife, the former Ethel Atwell; daughters, Ann Bond and Sue Pari; brothers, Philip and Charles Knecht; sisters, Julia Taake and Mary Hickok and one grandchild.

At the time of his death, Mr. Knecht was chairman of the Kankakee Fire and Police Commission. He was past chairman of the Kankakee County Chapter American Red Cross; former president of the Kankakee YMCA and a former member of the official Board of the Asbury Church.

Mr. Knecht was a graduate from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and received a Master’s Degree at the University of Illinois where he did further advanced studies. His teaching career included service at Dongola and Cahokia. He was Superintendent at Dongola before entering the U.S. Army in 1943. Knecht came to Olney Township High School in 1949 as Principal, from Dongola. In April 1951 he resigned his position at Olney to take a like position with the new two million dollar Maplewood High School between East St. Louis and Dupo.

He moved to Kankakee in 1955 to become Principal of West Jr. High School. He served in that post a year then was named Principal of the Kankakee High School and in 1959 was named Superintendent.

Published in The Edwardsville Intelligencer (Edwardsville, IL) – Wednesday, March 14, 1973