George W. Knabe, Jr. was born June 29, 1924 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He died at his home on May 16, 2012.
Dr. Knabe attended Michigan State College where he volunteered for the United States Army and was called into service during World War II. Later, when graduating from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, he received his residency training in Pathology at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, and Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, with an intervening period of service in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.
George served as chief of the Laboratory Service at the Veterans Administration Center in Dayton, Ohio, and was on the faculty at Ohio State University in Columbus. He then accepted a position as medical education advisor and professor of Pathology at the University of El Salvador School of Medicine in San Salvador, under a US government program to improve medical education in that country. Dr. Knabe also led the establishment of a degree-granting School of Medical Technology, the first of its kind in Latin America. After completing this assignment, he joined the medical faculty at the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan. Upon his return to the mainland states, he became professor of Pathology and later dean of the University of South Dakota School of Medicine then located in Vermillion, South Dakota. He then joined the faculty of the University of Minnesota-Duluth as associate dean for Clinical Affairs and professor of Pathology at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth and finally at the Virginia Regional Medical Center in Virginia, Minnesota, where he retired. He was given the CAP Lifetime Achievement award in 2010 for his extensive work in establishing the Collage of American Pathologists' public service program. He was also a CAP delegate from Minnesota for many years.
George led a full, productive life. He was a kind, good, gentle man. He had many interests including photography, gardening, reading, insects and art. George loved trees. He planted many at his home. His back yard in Virginia is called "George's Woods".
George is survived by his wife: Jeanette; daughters: Katherine (Gary) Bloder of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Elizabeth Knabe of Marshfield, WI, Ann (Martin) Engel of Nevada City, CA and Dorothy (Rick) Knabe of Moultonborough, NH; grandchildren: Elizabeth, Mary, William, Margaret, Tess, Amy, Connor, Kali, Westly.
There will be no funeral services. Private Inurnment will be at a later date in the Greenwood Cemetery.
Memorials are preferred to the Virginia Community Foundation.
Family services are provided by Bauman-Cron, a Bauman Family Funeral Home, in Virginia. To express condolences on-line please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com.

Facts

Born: June 29, 1924
Place of Birth: Grand Rapids, MI
Death: May 16, 2012
Place of Death: Virginia, MN
Occupation: Pathology
Hobbies: Photography, Gardening, Reading, Insects and Art

Services Per Decedent's Request - No Formal Services will be held