Catherine Knaak

Catherine Mae Regier, the daughter of Arnold and Elaine (Waltner) Regier was born on October 10, 1956, in Mountain Lake, MN. She received her education in Mountain Lake, graduating from the Mountain Lake High School in 1975. She continued her education at Mankato State University and graduated with a degree in accounting. She was a skilled accountand and worked as a controller at Westin Automotive Inc. in St. James through April 2006. Cathy was baptized upon confession of her faith at the Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake, and she was currently a member of Augustana Lutheran Church in St. James. Cathy was united in marriage to Bruce Mattison on January 16, 1977, and two sons, Timothy and Ryan, were born to this union. Bruce passed away on August 3, 2000. Cathy married Tim Knaak on November 27, 2004. Their love for each other sustained and strengthened Cathy during her courageous three year battle with breast cancer. Cathy will be remembered for her gentle spirit, her listening ear and words of wisdom, and her deep faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She is admired for her genuine kindness and her ability to see the good in everyone. She enjoyed reading, singing in the church choir, gardening, and fishing. She savored the wonders of the natural world, especially bird watching, the starry night sky, and long walks in the outdoors. Most of all, Cathy cherished time spent with her husband, her sons and daughter-in-law, and the rest of her family. Catherine Regier Knaak died on Friday evening, May 19, 2006, at her rural St. James home with her loving family at her side. Cathy is survived by her husband, Tim Knaak of St. James; sons, Tim Mattison, and Ryan and his wife Helena Mattison of St. James; step sons, Josh Knaak and his fiance of Mankato, MN, Matt Knaak of St. James, Nathan Knaak and his fiance of Pipestone, MN, and Tayler Knaak of St. James; her parents, Arnold and Elaine Regier of Mountain Lake; sisters and brother, Kirsten and her husband Bill Freitag of St. James, Arne and his wife Penny Regier of Hackensack, MN, Ruth Regier Forsline and her husband Mark of Minneapolis, MN and Carol Regier and her special friend E. J. Jordan of Newton, KS; many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Bruce Mattison; and her garndparents, John and Bertha Waltner and David and Barbera Regier.