Frances Knoot

Frances Knoot, 95, of Oskaloosa, passed away Thursday, April 4, 2024, at the Mahaska Health Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. Frances M. Knoot, daughter of John and Frances (Zarnic) Kosmach, was born July 4, 1928, in Lovilia, Iowa. Frances grew up on a farm near Albia and attended the area country school. After completing her education, she and her sister moved to Oskaloosa to work at the Northwestern Bell Telephone Office. She soon met the eligible bachelor, James H. Knoot, a young farmer from the Rose Hill area. Their courtship soon became long-distance through the US and Military mail. Jim served two and a half years in Korea, and while home on leave, he and Frances were married on August 4, 1952, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They spent the first six months of their marriage on an Army base near North Park, Illinois. When they returned to Iowa, they made their home on a farm near Rose Hill for over 40 years. Frances and Jim were partners on the farm, with her primary focus on running the household and raising the three children, yet always finding time to help Jim when needed and helping with their large garden. Frances was an active and faithful member of the First Christian Church, where she participated in the Quilters Group, Lydia Circle, All-Rounders Sunday School Class, and many other volunteer opportunities. Serving others was at the core of who Frances was, first her family, then her church family, and then her community family. She volunteered at the Mahaska Hospital Snack Bar for many years and passed down her passion for serving others to her family and friends. She understood that by blessing others, she was indeed blessed. Her family includes her children, Sheryl (Earl) Bogard of Jonesborough, TN, and Ron (Carol) Knoot of Rose Hill, IA; six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren: Melissa (James) Koppel, and their daughter, Emily, Michelle (Travis) Ketron and their children, Ethan and Ella, Amanda (Brett) Doud and their children, Paisley and Beckett, Allison (Joel) Stout and their children, Hadley, Henrik and Harris, Amber (Nick) Coffey and their children, Blakely and Quinnley, and Alex (Taylor) Knoot and their children, Remi, Nya and Jaya. She is also survived by a brother, Joe Kosmach, of Albia, and a sister-in-law, Erma Kosmach, of Cedar Rapids. In addition to her parents, Frances was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, on October 27, 1993; a daughter, Diane Knoot, who passed away in 2011; three brothers and four sisters-in-law: Albert Kosmach and his wife, June, John Kosmach and his wife, Louise, Joe’s wife, Lousie Kosmach, Charlie Kosmach, and Lois (Knoot) and her husband, Loren Lester; a sister and two brothers-in-law, Mollie and her husband Harry Davis, and Gerald Knoot. Funeral services for Frances will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, April 8, 2024, at the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa, with Reverends Robert and Molly Goodrich officiating. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday at Langkamp Funeral Chapel; the family will greet visitors from 5-7 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to Youth at the First Christian Church or the Mahaska Health Foundation for the Hospice Serenity House.

Frances Knoot

July 4, 1928 - April 4, 2024