Loretta Mary “Lanny” Knotek, age 97, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 22, 2022, at Water’s Edge Care Center in Hayward, WI.

She was born on September 16, 1924, in Franklin Park, IL, the daughter of John and Rica (Montesano) Lannefeld.

She was united in marriage to Gustav Joseph Knotek on November 17, 1945, in Franklin Park.

Lanny was born and raised in Franklin Park, IL, where she graduated high school. She worked for the Air Force in civil service and later as a secretary for CECO Steel Company. Lanny and Gus lived in Broadview, IL and later in Aurora, IL. A devout catholic, she was member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Aurora where she worked at the school library.

She and Gus moved to Hayward, WI, in 1984 to follow her husband’s dream of fishing and to be closer to her daughter Amy and her family. Amy moved to Hayward in 1975, where she met and married Fred Nelson and the couple added Adam and Erika to the family. Lanny helped care for her grandchildren while their parents worked. Lanny and Gus bought a home on Big Round Lake and enjoyed lake life through boating, fishing, pontoon excursions and gatherings with family and friends. In 2002, they left the lake and moved to a twin home in Stonewood subdivision. Sadly, Lanny lost her husband due to a heart attack in 2003.

She enjoyed volunteering and held positions with the Sherman and Ruth Weiss Library, Friends of the Library, and was a desk greeter at the Hayward Area Memorial Hospital as a member of the Hayward Hospital Auxiliary. Lanny moved to Water’s Edge in 2018 and enjoyed her new home and met many new friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Amy Nelson of Hayward; her grandson, Adam (Penny) Nelson of Maple Grove, MN; her granddaughter, Erika (Dustin) Tervelt of Phoenix, AZ; her great-grandchildren, Lincoln and Carter Nelson, Chase Schossow, and Deacon Tervelt; and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

In addition to her parents, Lanny is preceded in death by her husband, Gustav “Gus” Knotek; her daughter, Carol Jean Knotek; four brothers; two sisters; and her son-in-law, Fred Nelson.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, July 28, 2022, at Greenwood Cemetery in Hayward. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date.

Memorials may be directed to the Sherman and Ruth Weiss Library, P.O. Box 917, Hayward, WI 54843 or to the St. Joseph Catholic Church, P.O. Box 877, Hayward, WI 54843.

Last Update: Jul 25, 2022 3:18 pm CDT