For those of you familiar with the Hero Foundation, you definitely got to know Al Knake. If you joined us for the annual golf outing, of course, his presence (and consistent wins in the long drive competition) were the stuff of legend. More importantly, his initial cancer diagnosis with pancreatic cancer and his successful fight against the disease was the catalyst for what became the Hero Foundation. His will, determination, and courage were inspirational and this organization has long tried to emulate and share those amazing qualities with everyone we come in contact with. He was an instrumental part of the Hero Foundation, and his work impacted countless families across Michigan.
Sadly, we lost Al on July 14th, and our hearts are heavy. He will be deeply missed by family and friends, but we look to keep his memory alive everywhere we go and with everything we do.
Memorial Mass will be held for Al on Friday, July 23, 2021, at 10:00 AM with an instate time of 9:30 AM at Our Lady of The Lakes Catholic Church, 5481 Dixie Highway, Waterford. The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 22, 2021, from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Coats Funeral Home – Waterford.
As per Al’s wishes, in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in his name to the Hero Foundation.
You can see his full obituary here.
The Hero Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to Michigan families impacted by cancer.