Harold R. Knechtel

Harold Robert Knechtel born June 5, 1930, in Baldwin Township, PA, passed away on Friday, October 24, 2025, in Spring City, Tennessee. 

Raised in Harrisville, PA until about the age of five, he then spent most of his young life in Dormont, PA, graduating from Dormont High and Connelly Technical School, where he studied Plumbing.

He was called into active service on September 17, 1951, for the U.S. Navy during the Korean War on the USS Bottineau (APA 235) as a pipefitter, and was discharged on August 24, 1953, after the war ended on July 27, 1953.

Harold and Janet Marie Strachan married on a weekend pass from the Navy on April 5, 1952, in Dormont, PA. Janet passed on January 29, 2019, in Spring City, Tennessee, just shy of 67 years of marriage.

Harold was a Master Plumber in Allegheny County and in 1961 he started his own business and retired in 1995.

His life of dedication and service was seen in so many ways, as an Eagle Scout, Deacon and Elder of his churches, mentoring to those as he traveled, he was always proud to be a 32-degree Mason, belonging to the John A. Brashear - Lodge #743 of the Greater South Hills Lodge.

As Harold aged, he kept going using his talents in woodworking making custom walking sticks so others, could stand up straight and walk a similar path. His life was a testament to his belief that all pieces of wood had a purpose, as do we all.

Preceding him in death are his is wife Janet M. (Strachan) Knechtel; his parents, William Charles Knechtel and Wilma Ann Bode; siblings, Beverly Knechtel Jackson and her husband Charles Jackson, William C. Knechtel and his wife Dorothy Laurenze Knechtel; and his daughter, Janet Ann Knechtel Jones.

Harold is survived by his son, Keith A. Knechtel and his wife Diane Carpenter Knechtel; his daughter, Karen L. Knechtel Gery and her husband William T. Gery; his grandsons, Col. William R. Gery and his wife Christine Darby Gery, along with their son, Caellum Gery, and Police Officer, Benjamin L. Gery and his wife Kate Gery, along with their daughter, Amelia Jane Gery; and his son-in-law, George Jones, and his children, Amanda Jones Bartron and her husband Derek Bartron, and Ashley Jones Foti and her husband Kyle Foti.

He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Friends received 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, November 13th at BRUSCO-NAPIER FUNERAL SERVICE, LTD., 2201 Bensonia Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15216, where Harold will also be honored with a Masonic service at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held in the funeral home on Friday, November 14th at 10:30 a.m. Burial to follow in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, where full military honors will be rendered.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospital or Amedisys Foundation.

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