John "Jack" Knowles

It is with broken hearts that we share the passing of loving father & husband, and former owner of The Hillsboro Sentry Enterprise, John “Jack” Knowles. Jack was born in Chicago, Illinois to Bill and Evelyn Knowles on March 20, 1942. He was reunited with them and many other loved ones in Heaven on May 1, 2022, after a difficult battle with Vascular Dementia. He is survived by his devoted wife of nearly 47 years, Jane Knowles, his daughters Meg (Jeremy) Miller, Beth (Nate) Wilbanks, and Amy (Adrian) Martel; as well as six grandchildren Brayden, Valerie, and Grant Miller; Sawyer and Oliver Wilbanks, and Nora Martel. He is also survived by his beloved brother Richard (Diane) Knowles, his dear cousin Dorothy Scissors, as well as nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

Jack worked in journalism for nearly 55 years. He spent the first 30 years of his career working for the Chicago Tribune, starting as a copy boy at age 18. During his time at the Tribune, learned the trade from some of the best newsmen of his generation. By the time he left the Tribune in 1989, he was the Editor of the Foreign News Desk. Moving his young family to a small, rural dairy farming community in Wisconsin and purchasing a weekly newspaper seemed like a crazy idea to many. But to Jack, it was a lifelong dream. Even as a boy he would spend hours writing “The Knowles News” – which probably didn’t have much by way of subscribers, but his mother Evelyn was his biggest fan even then. Jack always wanted to have something to call his own. He and Jane fell in love with the community of Hillsboro and all the wonderful people who lived there. It was the best decision they could have made.

The years Jack spent as editor and publisher of the Hillsboro Sentry Enterprise were some of the happiest of his life. He was honored with many awards in writing, publishing, photography and editing from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. But more importantly to him, he was surrounded by employees who became like family to him. People who cared like he did about putting out a quality newspaper with integrity and honesty. He worked for one of the biggest newspaper corporations in the world, and then he owned one of the smallest – but they both were equally as important to him in terms of doing the good work and getting people the news that they needed. Before there was the 24-hour news cycle, and the internet, and social media; there were men like Jack. Those that knew him were blessed to learn from him about things like integrity, honesty, kindness, charity, passion, and the value of hard work.

Although Jack was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised on the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Cubs, he did finally drink the Packer cool aid and could frequently be seen sporting his favorite Packer and Badger gear. He would never quit the Chicago Cubs though and was finally rewarded with a World Series win in 2016, something he waited seventy-four years to enjoy. His love for the Cubbies could only be equaled by his love for the Hillsboro Tigers. There were so many things Jack enjoyed about being the local newspaper owner, but none as much as watching, photographing, and writing about all the various sports teams and athletes who grew up before his eyes. First little kids learning how to dribble or pass a ball, then awkward middle schoolers working so hard to get better, and finally strong and confident seasoned high school athletes bringing home wins and championships. The walls of his office at the Sentry Enterprise were filled with Tigers memorabilia and many photographs he had taken, signed by the athletes he was happy to write about. A lifelong sports fan of all levels, Jack was thrilled to watch his own daughters compete as Tigers themselves and then years later also enjoy cheering on his grandchildren as they stepped on the field, court, diamond, or pitch. He was always their biggest fan.

As accomplished as Jack was in his career, it paled in comparison to his love for his family. He was a loyal husband for nearly 47 years to Jane, a devoted father to three daughters, a cherished father-in-law to three sons, and finally a doting and loving Papa to six grandchildren. Jack’s family was his whole world. And to his family, Jack was cherished and loved beyond measure. He never missed supporting his daughters at any event no matter how big or small. Whether it was sports, theater, forensics competitions, mock trial tournaments, or a prom; Jack was always there with a beaming smile cheering them on and a camera to capture the moments. The special days he was able to walk his three daughters down the aisle at their weddings and welcome his grandchildren into the world are the moments his family will remember for a lifetime. The mutual love and admiration displayed between Jack and Jane throughout their 47 years of marriage set an example for their children and grandchildren. Jack was always immensely proud of his wife and how she excelled in her career as a registered nurse while simultaneously helping him raise three daughters and supporting his dreams of owning is own newspaper business. They were the true definition of a team and a partnership. They faced so many trials together in life, in business, in family, and in health – but got through it all with grace and love. They were a blessing to one another even in Jack’s final moments.

The entire Knowles family would like to thank the community of Hillsboro for folding us in and making us your own back in 1989. It was Jack’s dream that brought us there, but you all made it possible for him and his entire family to thrive, grow, and prosper through your support. Jack’s legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren, but also through those who live in the town that made his dreams come true.

A celebration of the life of Jack Knowles will be held on Thursday, June 16, 2022 with a visitation from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by a Service at 7:00 p.m., both at the Picha Funeral Home in Hillsboro, Wisconsin. Interment will be on Friday, June 17, 2022 at the Mount Vernon Cemetery in Hillsboro, Wisconsin.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John "Jack" Knowles, please visit our floral store.