David Knoebber Obituary

David (Dave) Thomas Knoebber – art educator, artist, gardener, husband, father, and friend to many in the Chicago and Galena Illinois, New Buffalo and Three Oaks Michigan, and Naples Florida communities, died on May 28, 2025 after a recurrence of melanoma.

Born in Galena, Illinois on August 14, 1936, David was the son of William and Elizabeth Knoebber, and younger brother to William James (Jim) Knoebber.

David received his first art lessons as a small boy, when Chicago artists Jim and Carolyn Howlett would travel by train to Galena to spend the weekends painting local scenes. The Howletts would give David lessons in watercolor, and pay him tip money to fetch drinks and food from town. These informal lessons put him on the path to his long career as an artist and educator.

Following high school in Galena, David earned a B.S. in History from the University of Wisconsin at Platteville, and a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He continued his education in Chicago and received a M.S. in Design from The Illinois Institute of Technology.

His teaching career began in 1958 at Komensky Elementary in Berwyn Illinois. He later taught at Roosevelt Junior High In Oshkosh, Wisconsin, S.E. Gross School in Brookfield, Illinois, and Oak Avenue and Forest Road Schools in LaGrange Park, Illinois.

As a young teacher, he was introduced to Elsie Paloucek from Berwyn IL, and the couple married in La Grange Park on August 20, 1960. Their son Steven (Steve) was born in 1961, followed by Robert (Rob) in 1966. Marriage to Elsie brought another life-changing benefit, her Paloucek parents’ farm in New Buffalo. It was on the farm that Dave nurtured his prize Dahlias and other flowers, watched and fed songbirds, and eventually established his Art Loft Studio.

In 1968, David began a 26-year tenure at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, Illinois. He was Art Department Chairman from 1971 until 1985. In 1983 Willowbrook H.S. received the National Art Education Award for best art curriculum in the country. That same year David was named National Art Educator of the year, citing his advocacy and innovative, multi-disciplinary curriculum development in art education. He was active in the Illinois Arts Education Association for most of his teaching career, serving as IAEA President 1983 - 84.

Later in his career, David taught art education classes at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois, and cartooning and animation classes at Columbia College in Chicago. A fan of film and animation, Dave was a Student Film Coordinator and member of the judging board for the Chicago International Film Festival.

David’s mastery of watercolor painting was evident in the many art shows he participated in around the Harbor Country Arts community, as well as exhibits in Illinois and Florida.

In retirement, he taught watercolor classes to winter residents of Bay Forest, Naples Florida, and ‘plein air’ painting workshops at the farm in New Buffalo. These years also allowed for more community engagement. He served on the Board of the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, and as President of the Board and Benefactor Sponsor of Harbor Arts in Sawyer, Michigan. In this capacity, he helped organize the ‘Music in the Park’ summer concert series in Three Oaks. Dave was also a founding radio personality of the local station, hosting ‘Harbor Country Art Scene’ at Radio Harbor Country WRHC in Sawyer / Three Oaks from 2006 until 2024.

David is survived by his wife Elsie, sons Steven (Jofrid Stavig) Knoebber and Robert Knoebber, sister-in-law, Rose Vujica, and nieces and nephews Mike (Mary) Knoebber, Linda Budi, Debby (Ron) Alexander, and Craig Knoebber. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Jim and sister-in-law Velma Knoebber, and nephews Jeffrey Knoebber and Kevin Knoebber.

Our family would like to express thanks to the doctors, nurses, and caregivers at Franciscan Health, Woodland Cancer Center, Life Care Center, and Rittenhouse Village in Michigan City Indiana, and Amedisys Hospice in Valparaiso Indiana.

Donations in memory of David may be made to:

Harbor Arts PO Box 453 Sawyer, MI 49125

The Lubeznik Center for the Arts 101 W. 2nd Street Michigan City, IN 46360