Joe Ann Love Janes Knauss, age 91, of Wilmington, passed in her sleep on Thursday 10/24/2024 at Foulk Living in Wilmington. She was predeceased by her husband Donald L. Knauss, her parents, Marvin L and Alice H. Janes, her sister, Phyllis, her niece Lynn Pierce, and her daughter-in-law Janice.
Joe Ann was born and grew up in Martinsburg, West Virgina. After high school, she briefly attended West Virginia University. She left to work at the Pentagon, and then for DuPont, which is where she met her husband of 68 years. Joe Ann was a loving homemaker for her five children, an executive secretary for Airport Shuttle and Diamond/Yellow Cab of Wilmington, and worked at the Brandywine Hundred Library.
An avid reader and art history buff, she continued her education and was the oldest graduate of University of Delaware class of 2007 at the age of 74. She cherished both books and her work at the library, working into her 80’s, and was a docent at the Brandywine River Museum. She had a very special bond with her cat Nell, as they spent many hours together. She was most passionate about family, having four sons and a daughter, Lee (Lynne), James (Karen), Steven (Dorothy), Christopher, and Anne Limmina (Robert). She has fourteen grandchildren, and at last count 15 great grandchildren with more on the way. She adamantly claimed Thanksgiving and Father’s Day as her own, never missing a single one, for family to get together and celebrate the goodness of life.
Burial will be in Martinsburg, WV joining her husband, her parents and sister. There will be a local memorial service at the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, on November 15th. Visitation at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Joe Ann’s name to Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 503 Duncan Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809.
Please visit www.mccreryandharra.com for additional remembrance information.
