Glendale "Butch" Wayne Mcknight

Glendale “Butch” Wayne McKnight, 71 of Roeland Park, Kansas passed peacefully into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 18th, 2023. He was born to James and JoAnn (Pickett) McKnight on November 29, 1951, in Kansas City, Kansas.

Visitation and memorial service will be held at Nall Avenue Church of the Nazarene, 6301 Nall Avenue, Prairie Village, Kansas 66202. Visitation is on Wednesday, November 8 from 6-8pm. Memorial service is on Thursday, November 9th at 10:00 am followed by a military honors graveside service at the National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas, at 2:30 pm.

Glen is survived by his wife, Heidi Anne McKnight, and five children, Coleene (Rob) Rosauer, Scott Coen, Sherry (Ken) Weishaar, Sarah (TJ Ritch) Park, Jacob (Caitlin) McKnight, brothers Randy and Tommy McKnight, sixteen grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Glen was known for his selfless and compassionate nature, which he displayed in every aspect of his life. He was a strong leader from his youth and grew to be an example to follow. From his purity of faith and morality to his steadfast dedication of supporting his friends and family, Glen’s presence was always felt as a comforting and stabilizing spirit

Glen served in the army during the Vietnam war from January 12, 1969 to May 16, 1970. He was severely wounded on May 8th, 1970, at Camp JJ Carroll after a bombshell hit his bunker. God was faithful and Glen overcame the resultant, and poorly understood, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and physical wounds to build a masonry business that lasted 31 years from 1980 to 2011.

On May 29th, 1982, Glen married his wife Heidi in Mission, Kansas. At that time, he was amidst a struggle with alcohol addiction, which had taken root during his service in Vietnam. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the enduring love of Heidi and Glen’s parents, he quit drinking on June 8, 1989 and stayed sober for the remainder of his life, celebrating 34 years of sobriety. His triumph over alcohol became proof of the possibility of sobriety for others as he led Alcoholics Anonymous and Alcoholics Victorious groups for 13 years. After graduating from Kansas City Community College on December 14, 2011 with an Associate’s Degree in Addiction Counseling, he became an addiction counselor at the Kansas City Rescue Mission (KCRM), now named ShelterKC, for 11 years.

Glen McKnight was no stranger to fun. He had a passion for sports with a specific love for his home teams the Chiefs and Royals. As a young family man, Glen coached a softball team and was a Boy Scout leader. He loved the art of masonry and was blessed to be paid for his craft. Many of his building structural artworks can still be witnessed today throughout the Kansas City area. During his later years he cultivated a love of gardening and grew vegetables and flowers in his home gardens. Glen inherited his mother’s love and gift for music. Though he did not like to sing in public, he had a wonderful singing voice and spent many hours listening to music and singing. His favorite genre of music was country, but he discovered a passion for gospel music later in life through his love for God.

Glen is, and will continue to be, missed but will be remembered fondly by the countless lives he touched. Glen was passionate about recovery from addiction and was blessed to be able to serve the Lord by being a shining beacon of hope. Glen passes on a strong faith legacy, tied to the McKnight name, learned from his mother and father’s devout example. He displayed an awe-inspiring devotion to family that was second only to his love of God.

Please send donations in Glen’s honor to:

Shelter KC

1520 Cherry Street

Kansas City, MO 64108

(816) 421-7643

or

Wayne D White Recovery Center – KC Footprints

4501 Troost Avenue

Kansas City, MO 64110

(816) 561-0567

info@kcfootprints.org