Obituary of Thurman L Knight

Thurman L. Knight III, 63, of Brainerd passed away suddenly on the morning of October 6, 2016. He was born in Pensacola, FL, the only son and eldest child of Mary Evelyn Bischoff (nee Gunn) and Thurman Lawrence Knight Jr. He served in the United States Navy from 1974-78 as a Corpsman in Jacksonville, FL, and moved to Minnesota after his honorable discharge. He was educated at both the Bachelor’s and Master’s level at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, in Communications in 1984. Shortly after, he began his career as a college instructor in communications. He first began teaching at Anoka Ramsey Community College and also taught part-time at North Hennepin Community College. In late 2004, he accepted a full time position as an instructor at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, MN, and was approaching retirement within the next couple years. Known throughout the community for his vivacious spirit, charismatic humor, and rock-star biker appearance, Thurman was most often found riding his motorcycles or old Ford pickup truck around town. He will be remembered by his former students and colleagues as an incredibly unique, impassioned, and spirited instructor. He is survived by his mother, Mary Evelyn Bischoff, of Aulander, NC; his sisters Barbara Lies, of Aulander, NC, and Jean Nobles, of Chesapeake, VA; his half-sister Sharon Knight and his half-brothers Steve Knight, Eric Knight, and David Knight, of Bainbridge, GA; and his children Timothy Knight, of Corona, CA, Jillian Knight, of Minneapolis, MN, and Ansel Shuster, of Minneapolis, MN, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. A memorial service is to be held at 11am, with visitation one hour before, on Saturday, November 12, 2016, at the Cremation Society of Minnesota, 1979 Old Hudson Road in St. Paul, MN. He will be finally laid to rest in a private ceremony at Fort Snelling Veteran’s Cemetery at a later date.