Craig Kenneth Knock, 58, Rapid City, SD died Sunday, December 27, 2009 of a heart attack. He was born December 28, 1950 in Mapleton, Iowa to Kenneth W. Knock and Patricia Swancutt Knock.
Craig attended high school in Willow Lake, SD and Brookings, SD where he graduated in 1969. He has been an active alumnus. At one reunion instead of driving to the site like everyone else he chose to parachute in to the amazement and wonder of all. Craig has logged well over 2000 lifetime parachute dives.
At the age of 16, Craig began working summers for the Burlington Northern Railway at the encouragement of his father who was a Burlington Northern depot agent. The hard summer work paid off. Craig was awarded a Burlington Northern Scholarship and enrolled at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology “Tech” where he graduated in 1974 with a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering; he enjoyed his time at “Tech” and was a member of the Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity.
Upon leaving college, he was hired as an Engineer for the Coal Gasification Plant in Rapid City, South Dakota and was responsible for the methanation process. In 1977, Craig was called upon to write the final report for the plant and the coal gasification process.
Craig had the option to move to North Dakota to another Coal Gasification Plant, instead he chose to make a career change and established a landscaping, hydro-seeding business in Gillette, WY. After 12 years, he moved his business to Rapid City, SD and re-named it Black Hills Hydro-Turf, Inc.
He has been a leader in the field of erosion control and landscaping/hydro-seeding. He was a member of the International Erosion and Sediment Control Association and was only one of three in South Dakota to become a Certified Professional in Erosion & Sediment Control. He specialized in reclamation of various mines and oil fields. His company has installed lawns and irrigation systems for commercial and residential properties throughout a four state area.
In the last several years he has been emphasizing soil chemistry, biology, and balancing the soils for optimum growth of grasses and/or food crop plants. He has also developed high impact humified compost which added with the soil will cut water usage by 50% and provide adequate biology to optimize growth and sustainability. Craig Knock loved dirt!
He eagerly shared his knowledge with all who wanted to learn. Craig loved working with soil and the associated chemistry and biology. He always had a microscope available to view the latest sample. He wanted to produce nutrient dense foods by balancing the soils. He applied his wide knowledge to his hobby farm, corn, potatoes and three acre pumpkin patch.
Craig’s passion for life extended beyond the work place. He was a licensed pilot, a sky diver, scuba diver, snow boarder, skier, and world traveler. His love for all things living and his vast knowledge will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues.
Survivors include his wife, Michele Knock, Rapid City; brother, Kent Knock, Rogue River, OR; sisters, Kay Knock, Rapid City, Patricia “Patty” Knock, Emigrant, MT, Kim Knock-Kriege, DMV, Livingston, MT; son, Joshua Knock, Rapid City; two step-children, Paul Paulhamas, Belle Fourche, Dawn Paulhamas, Spearfish, SD; nieces, Juniper and Marhia; and nephew, Pete, who especially liked all of Uncle Craig’s “toys” tractors, skid steers, trucks and more.
A Celebration of Life service will be Saturday, January 9, 2010, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Surbeck Center on the Campus of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, SD. This will be an informal gathering to share stories and/or pictures about the impact Craig Kenneth Knock has had on us.
Family and friends may sign Craig’s online guestbook at www.kirkfuneralhome.com.