George Allen Knauff, 86, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at home, surrounded by the love of his family.
Born Dec. 12, 1939, in Jackson Township, Pa., he was the son of the late John Henry Knauff and Chloie McCall Knauff and the youngest of five children.
George was a hardworking man who spent much of his career as a crane operator at Halstead and later retired from Wesco in 2008. He was Protestant in faith.
More than anything, George was a man who truly loved life. He found happiness in simple pleasures and approached his days with a positive spirit, a good sense of humor and an easy laugh. Always good for a joke, George was often the life of the party and loved nothing more than making the people around him smile.
George took tremendous pride in the home and life he shared with his beloved wife, Sandy. He loved being outdoors, tending to his flowers and garden, keeping his yard just right and riding his lawn tractor around his own little paradise. Never one to sit still for long, he was happiest when working with his hands, fixing something or finding another project to keep himself busy.
A longtime member of the Western Pennsylvania Garden Tractor Association, George loved pulling garden tractors and collecting and restoring vintage Cub Cadets. He also enjoyed model trains, Western movies and, without fail, a bowl of ice cream every night.
George and Sandy also shared a sense of adventure. Together, they traveled the East Coast on their motorcycles, camping along the way and creating memories throughout their many years together.
Behind George’s humor was an incredibly tender heart. He was never afraid to shed a tear of happiness, something that happened often when he spoke about the people he loved. He was immensely proud of his family and deeply grateful for the life and love he and Sandy created together. Being a husband, father and grandfather brought him tremendous joy.
George also had a special love for dogs. His beloved Bella was a constant companion and remained faithfully by his side through the very end.
George was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sandra Lou “Sandy” Schoeffel Knauff, with whom he shared more than six decades of marriage; his son, Jeffrey Allen Knauff; his siblings; and his parents.
He is survived by his son, Randy (JoAnn) Knauff; his cherished granddaughters, Karla (Steven) Miller and Katelyn Knauff (Zack Schuler); his treasured great-granddaughter, Khloe; and his great-grandson, Ozzy George, who is on the way and will proudly carry his namesake. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, extended family members and dear friends.
Those who knew George will remember his laughter, his work ethic, his tender heart and the joy he found in simply living a good life. He loved deeply, laughed often and took tremendous pride in the family and home he and Sandy built together. That love—and the happiness he found in sharing it with others—will remain his lasting legacy.
Friends and relatives of George A. Knauff who passed away on Saturday September 19, 2026, will be received on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, from 11 A.M. to noon, Services will follow from the A. Carl Kinsey-Ronald N. Volz Funeral Home, 328 W. Main St., Evans City.
