Feb 26, 2018 By Harry Funk staff Writer hfunk@thealmanac.Net 5 min read

After many attempts to honor William Knaus for all he did on behalf of Bethel Park, he finally said yes to Mayor Jack Allen.

“We didn’t think he’d show up at the council meeting to get his recognition,” Allen recalled. “But he actually did, and he brought his family with him. That was unusual for him.”

Mr. Knaus, who died Feb. 25 at age 97, had a history of assisting others while staying decidedly behind the scenes.

“If he knew a family that was hurting, he would make sure they had groceries,” said Mark O’Brien, council member for Bethel Park’s Ward 6. “If he knew someone who couldn’t pay their rent, he would help them anonymously. He was always there to help people.”

Having served in the U.S. Army during both World War II and the Korean War, Mr. Knaus would strive to ensure that veterans received the utmost in recognition, prompting him to take a key role in the construction of the Bethel Park Veterans Memorial at the municipal building in the late 1990s.

“When Billy came on board, things changed quickly,” O’Brien said. “Billy had a great knowledge in construction. He was a very intelligent, warmhearted man. And he became the heart and soul of the building of the monument.”

Some of his other community interests included supporting the Bethel Park Historical Society and its renovation of the former school on South Park Road, which he had attended, as the Schoolhouse Arts and History Center. He also was integral to the local trolley line beautification project.

“You would see him out there in his pickup truck, either delivering water or planting flowers or pulling weeds,” Tim Moury, council president, said. “No matter what you needed, he knew somebody or would be willing to help, and he didn’t want credit.”

Sandy Dupree, who grew up near Mr. Knaus’ home and knew him for more than 70 years, concurred.

“If you had a problem or you needed some help with something, he would know just who you should go to, to get it done,” she said. “And he never asked for anything for himself. But he’d always come back to you, if he did you a favor, and ask for something for Bethel Park.”

She owns Dupree’s Garden Center in Union Township – founded by her late husband, Frank – and Mr. Knaus was a frequent customer on behalf of the trolley project.

“He would go through the greenhouse and pick out the plants he wanted,” Dupree recalled, “and then he’d send his volunteers down to get them and they’d plant them.”

Mr. Knaus, who was married for 63 years to the former Georgiana Barbarich, was awarded two Army Bronze Stars for his service and reached the rank of lieutenant colonel at the time of his discharge.

“When he talked about his soldiers, he’d become very compassionate,” O’Brien said. “His goal in life was to never, ever let any of them be forgotten. He lived by that: Sacrifice is meaningless without remembrance.”

The memorial stands as a tribute to his point of view.

“Even though he was a lieutenant colonel, he insisted that none of the names had a rank, because all served equally,” O’Brien explained. “He recognized the service of every man, not just by the rank.”

He wanted to make sure no one was forgotten, and O’Brien said that through Mr. Knaus’ efforts, the memorial committee was able to track down five young Bethel Park soldiers who lost their lives in Korea and Vietnam, men who otherwise would have been lost to history despite their sacrifices.

Mr. Knaus’ pride in the memorial and its meaning extended to his actively contributing to its maintenance and planning for its future.

“He saw a lot of memorials that were built and never maintained, so he was a big help,” Moury said. “We dedicated a fund at the municipality, and we now have money to help maintain the memorial for years to come. He always thought of everything.”

Also with regard to veterans, Mr. Knaus was a consistent supporter of American Legion Post 760 on Bethel Church Road, for which Allen serves as commander.

“We have a building fund, and Bill contributed every year to that, to the point that we’re able to put a new roof on our porch. We’re able to do some paving,” Allen said. “He would just give everything that he could. He was the veteran’s veteran.”

Dupree spoke about his standing in the community.

“I really do believe that he’ll be irreplaceable,” she said. “He loved Bethel Park. He really did.”

Friends will be received from 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at Paul Henney Cremation and Funeral Tributes, 5570 Library Road, Bethel Park. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. March 1 at St. Valentine Catholic Church, 2710 Ohio St.