Thomas R.  Knechel
Died: Nov 4, 2019
Thomas Ralph Knechel, 64 of Washington Township, Morris County, New Jersey, passed away at his residence on Monday, November 4, 2019. Born in Morristown, NJ, on May 25, 1955, Tom was the son of Ralph & Lois Rossy Knechel of Hackettstown, NJ
A lifelong resident of the greater Hackettstown, NJ area, Tom was a graduate of Hackettstown High School and Wagner College. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved hiking as well as traveling to destinations around the world. Tom was a self employed Real Estate Investor with properties in both Warren and Morris Counties. He previously worked as the general manager of the former Knechel Ford car dealership in Hackettstown; a family business.
In addition to his beloved parents, Ralph and Lois, Tom is survived by a sister, Linda Bahnuk and husband Tim of Hackettstown, NJ. One niece, one nephew and three great nieces. He is predeceased by his loving wife, Joan Lukacs Knechel who passed away in 2002.
Visitation will be on Thursday, November 7, 2019 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at the Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ. Funeral services will be on Friday, 10:00am at the funeral home.
Interment will follow at Union Cemetery, Hackettstown, NJ. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.cochranfuneral.com.
In Lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Joan Knechel Cancer Center, C/O Hackettstown Regional Medical Ctr, 651 Willow Grove Street, Hackettstown , NJ 07840, in memory of Thomas.

Condolences:

elaine loux
#31
November 15th, 2019 12:59 pm
dear Ralph and Lois, so sorry for your loss, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Rosemarie Sinisi Wright
#30
November 12th, 2019 8:53 am
My sincere condolences to Linda and family for your loss! You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Robin Koslo-Stahl
#29
November 11th, 2019 7:29 pm
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Knechel and Linda, My sincere sympathy to all of you for the passing of Tom, a great guy who was generous and kind. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Duane & Trisha Copley
#28
November 9th, 2019 10:20 am
Dear Ralph & Lois, so very sorry for you loss. Know that you are in our hearts and prayers at this time.
Jennifer Lundy
#27
November 9th, 2019 10:17 am
I am sorry for your loss. Prayers to you family.
Stephanie , Andrew & nick
#26
November 8th, 2019 11:27 am
To the Knechel family So saddened to hear of Tom's passing You've all been a part of our lives my heart hurts for you all. Will keep Tom in our prayers Love to you all Stephanie and the boys
Norman Baron
#25
November 8th, 2019 10:53 am
Dear Ralph, Lois, Linda and Tim, I just learned this morning of Tom’s passing. It is a loss for the community but a far greater loss for your family. You are all in my thoughts.
Joan Westpy
#24
November 7th, 2019 4:20 pm
We are so very sorry for Tom's passing. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family and friends. Tom was such a nice, funny and caring man. He did so much for the Joan Knechel Cancer Center, and the JKMW. He consistently helped out the Hackettstown Rotary's car show every year, selling raffle tickets, to raise funds for the Joan Knechel Cancer Center. He will be sorely missed. Joan and Keith
Susan, Doug, Matt, and Allison Manhire
#23
November 7th, 2019 4:12 pm
We were all so saddened to hear of the passing of Tom. As your next door neighbors for many years, we got to know Tom and Joan, and their love of nature and the simple things of life. May you all be comforted by your large community of friends, and the love you share together as a family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all as you travel this journey of grief. Susan and Doug
Nancy and Harry
#22
November 7th, 2019 2:21 pm
Please know that our prayers for comfort are with you as you mourn the passing of Tom. He was a good man and has left a wonderful legacy on his community. He will be missed not only by his family but by the community he served so well. May he rest in peace with Joan.
Eugene. Dauch,Sr.
#21
November 7th, 2019 1:55 pm
Dear Lois and Ralph ,mere words seem inadequate at this time,we wish to express our prayers at your loss. Gene,MaryLou
Mary Painter
#20
November 7th, 2019 1:54 pm
So very sorry to hear of Tom's passing. My deepest sympathies.
Lisa Dimiceli
#19
November 7th, 2019 11:27 am
Mr. and Mrs. Knechel, Linda, Tim, Jenn, Mark, Erikka and girls, So very sorry to hear of Tom's passing. Tom's easy smile and fun sense of humor will be missed by many. He was an dedicated friend to the HMC Foundation and a pillar of this community who has certainly left a positive legacy behind. May you find great comfort in your memories of Tom and in the knowledge that he and his beloved Joan are together again. Take care - you're all in my thoughts and prayers.
Charles Andy Smith
#18
November 7th, 2019 10:32 am
Ralph and Lois. So sorry to read about your loss. My sincere condolences to you both from an old childhood friend and neighbor. Andy
Carrie Lee McClelland
#17
November 7th, 2019 7:53 am
Ralph and Lois, My deepest condolences on the loss of your bright and loving son, Tom. I knew he and Joan for years through local radio and socially. May you find peace and solace in the support of your family, friends and community in this time of transition. He was greatly loved and will be dearly missed.
Linette larrison
#16
November 6th, 2019 10:19 pm
Tom and Joan where my honer to say best friends. Love and hopefully see ya again.
Cindy Cox Kelshaw
#15
November 6th, 2019 9:18 pm
Mr and Mrs Knechel, Linda and family, I am so sorry to hear of Tom's passing. My deepest sympathies. God speed Tom! Give Joan a kiss for me.
Janice (Sheldon) Meade
#14
November 6th, 2019 11:55 am
I am so saddened to hear of Tom’s passing. He was such a sweet and fun guy. Got to know him a bit more in the last few years. He will truly be missed by all that knew him. I will keep you all on my prayers.
Claudia Conway
#13
November 6th, 2019 10:16 am
Ralph & Lois So very sorry to hear of Tom's passing. Know that we are thinking of you at this difficult time and will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. May God Bless. Claudia
Robyn Jensen
#12
November 6th, 2019 10:14 am
I am so sorry to hear of Tom's passing. I loved working with him at the Rotary car shows. He was always so energetic and positive. We will miss him dearly.
Terry Carpenter
#11
November 6th, 2019 10:09 am
Dear Knechel Family....I'm so sorry to hear of Tom's passing. I know that you will always love and treasure the wonderful memories that you have of Tom...hold them dearly in your hearts. Much love...
Al and Michele Reissmann
#10
November 6th, 2019 9:14 am
Knechel family, we are so saddened by the news of Tom's passing. He was a friend and brother. Miss his smiling face already. With deepest sympathy.
Sarah (Buttner) Frisino
#9
November 6th, 2019 9:02 am
So sorry to hear this sad news. My condolences to the Knechel family. Ralph and Joan were staples of my childhood and I have so many fond memories of them. He will be missed by all who knew him and his big smile.
Gene and Donna Milton
#8
November 6th, 2019 8:32 am
So sorry to hear of Tom’s passing. He was a great friend of the hospital and especially the cancer center named after his wife Joan. I will miss seeing him at the Rotary Car Show. We will miss the services as we are in Canada but our thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Karen Merboth Mazanek
#7
November 6th, 2019 8:19 am
Condolences to the Knechel family. So very sorry for your loss. Tom was a long time friend and his passing is sad for all of us who knew him. I know that he came from a good family and that you loved him very much, as he did you. Please accept my sincere sympathy on your loss. He will be missed Karen Merboth Mazanek
Frank and Lucann Acosta
#6
November 6th, 2019 7:10 am
Rest in Peace Tom. We journeyed this life together from the fields of Morgans track playing baseball together at 10 years old to your final resting place of peace. Our condolences go out to his family.
Vince Iacampo
#5
November 5th, 2019 8:55 pm
Dear Lois, Ralph and Linda, My sincerest condolences for your loss. I pray for comfort for you during this sad time. We've been neighbors and friends since 1966. That first year my Dad passed away and you loaned me a car to make the many trips to S.I. I don't remember why I needed a car, I had my own. Anyway you were there when I needed help. When Janet passed in 2005 you all came to pay respects & comfort us. Thanks again. Please know I have and will again pray to our Good Lord to comfort you during this sad time. Kindest Regards & Love, Vince
Mark Iacampo
#4
November 5th, 2019 6:52 pm
Wow, so sorry to here about this. The Knechel family has been a part of my family as long as I can remember. May God bless Tom.
The Iacampo Family
#3
November 5th, 2019 6:25 pm
This news is just devastating. We grew up across the street from the Knechels and Tom was a prominent memory. Our condolences to his entire family. There are just no words.
Maria Haydon Buttner
#2
November 5th, 2019 5:41 pm
I am so sorry for your loss. Our condolences to you and your family. Maria and Brian
Dorothy Kappers
#1
November 5th, 2019 5:33 pm
Ralph and Lois so sorry to hear of your loss. You are both in my thoughts and prayers.
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