Memorial

Grace Mae Knowles, 89, of North English formerly of Cedar Rapids and Council Bluffs, passed away September 29, 2025. Visitation will be held from 4 - 7 PM, Sunday, October 5, 2025, at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be held at 3:00 PM, Monday, October 6, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Entombment will be in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Grace was born on April 26, 1936, the daughter of James H. and Mary E. (Larkey) Strickell. She was united in marriage to Jack L. Knowles on February 6, 1962, in Bonaparte, IA. One of her first jobs was as a waitress and she met her husband Jack while she was waitressing.  She was a driver for Century Cab for over 20 years and a school bus driver for the Cedar Rapids and North English School Districts for over 18 years. Grace had been a member of Hillside Wesleyan Church and North English Christian Church. She especially enjoyed Vacation Bible School at church. Her hobbies included knitting, crocheting, and quilting. She also liked gardening and cooking.   

Survivors include her children Larry (Sharon) Knowles and Ellen (Dennis) Gilchrist; daughter-in-law, Carolyn Franks; and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband Jack in 1991; and sons Albert Franks and James Henry Franks who passed away at birth.  

Memorials may be directed to a local church of the donor’s choice.