Leonard Oscar Knoblett

Leonard Oscar Knoblett, 83, of Palestine, IL, died on January 5, 2026, at Haven of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, IL. He was born on November 26, 1942—Thanksgiving Day—in rural Hutsonville to Floyd Knoblett and Vera (Allen) Knoblett.

Leonard was raised on LaMotte Prairie in Palestine with his older siblings, Ruth and Donald. He grew up among family, relatives, and country neighbors there and at Oak Grove Church. He attended the country Moore School and later Palestine Grade School. He was a proud graduate of the Class of 1960, with whom he shared lifelong friendships. Following graduation, he enlisted in the Army National Guard and attended diesel mechanic school in St. Louis.

One day, with a car full of buddies at the Dog ’n Suds in Robinson, he met a pretty carhop. Needless to say, he returned—this time without his buddies—and asked her out. Leonard and Jeannette (Jourdan) Knoblett were married on February 16, 1962. Leonard’s diesel mechanic career took their family to Springfield, IL, for a few years with their children Scott and Shari, and later to Terre Haute, IN, with son Todd. Eventually, they returned to Palestine, where daughter Vicki joined the family. There, Leonard put his skills to use for many years—first farming with his father and brother, then with his sons, and later with his grandson. His family watched him labor over equipment repairs on their grain farm, while also caring for livestock in earlier years.

Leonard was a proud 4-H member as a youth and later helped his children and grandchildren with their projects. He enjoyed drag racing in his younger years and spent time on local stock car tracks, always with his family in tow. There were always shop projects to tinker with. He enjoyed traveling, as evidenced by the yearly family trips planned each summer around the farm schedule. He loved ’59 Chevys, riding motorcycles, attending auctions, and NASCAR. Leonard and Jeannette especially enjoyed southern Illinois and Kentucky, including trips to the casino boat—where they only played their winnings. Leonard served as a member of the Palestine School Board for nine and a half years and enjoyed attending the annual school board convention in Chicago. He and Jeannette were nearly always present at their children’s activities and even more so at their grandchildren’s. Leonard loved gooseberry and mincemeat pies, and his children and grandchildren know that Jeannette cooked his many favorites every day— even bringing a basket of things he liked to the nursing home during his last two years. In the end, Leonard’s greatest joy was his wife, children, and grandchildren, and he was especially delighted to have known his great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Guy and Lois Jourdan; his son, Scott Knoblett; his granddaughter, Emma Eckert; his brothers-in-law, Charles Jourdan and Eugene Reinbold; and his sister-in-law, Nancy Knoblett.

He is survived by his wife, Jeannette; children, Shari and Jim Eckert of Palestine, Todd Knoblett of Palestine, and Vicki and Allen Wood of Mt. Carmel, IL; grandchildren Allen “A.K.” and Kate Wood of Mt. Carmel, IL, Ethan Knoblett of Fayetteville, NC, Seth Wood of Bainbridge, PA, Cole and Jessica Knoblett of Robinson, Susannah Eckert and Kenneth Pappageorge of Robinson, and Joseph Eckert, Samuel Eckert, and Jacob Eckert of Palestine; great-grandchildren Tobias Eckert, Lily Wood, and Callie Knoblett; his sister, Ruth Reinbold of Normal, IL; his brother, Donald Knoblett of Robinson, IL; his sister-in-law, Donna Jourdan of Hinckley, IL; as well as many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7th, at Oak Grove Cemetery. Goodwine Funeral Home in Palestine is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Palestine Now Program or the Oak Grove Cemetery Association, with memorial available at the cemetery.