Obituary

George F. Knickrehm died in Bellingham, Washington on September 20, 2014, after battling Parkinson’s Disease for 20 years. Born April 16, 1936 to Frederick and Lois Knickrehm, George spent his childhood in the Yakima region, on the family farm, surrounded by livestock, fruit trees, and freely-roaming peacocks. George was an extremely hard-working individual who personified a unique mix of agricultural knowledge, artistic talents, and business acumen. After spending four years in the U.S. Navy, George graduated from Washington State University with the help of the GI Bill. He started his career in food service management, and spent many years working at Tektronix in Oregon. In his late career, George lived for more than eight years in Japan developing his own English language business. In his retirement, his artistic output flourished. He became known for creating humorous and distinctive sculpture, poetry, bonsai plantings and oil paintings. His family and friends loved him very much.

George is survived by his children, Robbin Brinkman (husband Beaver), Whitney Knickrehm (husband Robert), Jorji Knickrehm (husband Jason), and Yung Knickrehm, his sister Nancy Rockwell, his six grandchildren Adrienne, Xiao, Oliver, Zivia, Isaac, and Imogen, and great-granddaughter Kennedy.

The family would like to thank Whatcom Hospice and Vining Villa Adult Family Home for their loving care. A memorial service is scheduled for late October in Bellingham.