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Joe Knollenberg: Nov. 28, 1933 -- Feb. 6, 2018
(Wikipedia photo)
Former U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg of Bloomfield Township, a conservative who served 16 years in Congress and sat on the House Appropriations Committee, died Tuesday at 84, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Knollenberg, who had Alzheimer's Disease, had been living in a care facility for some time. His son, state Sen. Marty Knollenberg, R-Troy, confirmed the death.
"I’m saddened to hear of the passing of former Congressman Joe Knollenberg," Gov. Rick Snyder tweets. "Joe represented MI in our nation’s capital for 16 years. His service to this nation, our state and his constituents will never be forgotten."
Todd Spangler and Kathleen Gray of the Detroit Free Press write:
Knollenberg was born in Mattoon, Ill., on Nov. 28, 1933, and served in the U.S. Army from 1955-57. An insurance agent, he settled in Michigan and rose to become Oakland County Republican Party chairman and campaign chairman for U.S. Rep. William Broomfield, who stepped down in 1993 after nearly 36 years in office.
Knollenberg won the Oakland County-based seat in 1992 -- beating two other Republicans with better name recognition, former state legislator David Honigman and Oakland County Circuit Judge Alice Gilbert -- and then held onto the seat for the next 16 years, rising to become a subcommittee chairman on the Appropriations Committee.
In the 2008, former state lottery commissioner and state Sen. Gary Peters, also of Bloomfield Township, defeated Knollenberg. Peters, now the state's junior senator, tweets:.
Joe worked tirelessly to represent the people of Southeast Michigan. He was a true statesman and a well-respected gentleman - exactly the kind of person you want to see in public service. My thoughts are with his family and friends. https://t.co/7R3GPvNUlx
— Senator Gary Peters (@SenGaryPeters) February 6, 2018
The Michigan Senate's Democratic leader of that chamber, also reacts:
Rep. Knollenberg dedicated his career to leaving MI a better place than he found it. As his family says goodbye to him, they should feel comfort knowing that he leaves behind a legacy of true public service. Our hearts are with Marty @knollenberg and the entire family.
— Senator Jim Ananich (@jimananich) February 6, 2018
