Janet Ann Dobson Knese passed away surrounded by the love of her family on Friday, October 22nd from complications of a long and hard-fought battle with Multiple Sclerosis.

Janie was born on February 8, 1945 to Harold and Theresa Dobson in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Birmingham, Alabama along with her five younger siblings. She attended Our Lady of Sorrows grade school and graduated from John Carroll Catholic High School in 1963. She went on to attend Samford University and then Auburn University, becoming a sister in the Phi Mu sorority.

While attending Auburn, Janie met her future husband Peter Gordon Knese on the beach in Panama City, Florida. After a whirlwind courtship Pete and Janie married in April of 1967. Not long after Pete's return from Vietnam, Peter II was born in 1970 followed by Mary Brittany in 1976.

Janie enjoyed working. She said it never felt like "work" because she loved what she did. From being a volunteer nurse and school teacher in North Carolina to working for a professor at George Mason University, she was a dedicated and valued employee wherever she went but none more so than when she was with Parkway School District. Starting off as a secretary at Mason Ridge and then running the computer lab for all the students at Parkway South Jr. (Middle) and Green Trails, reluctantly retiring once she could no longer walk the halls.

Janie loved to be social whether it was playing bridge competitively or just for fun. She was always ready to jump in the car or hop on a plane to visit friends and family, or cruise with Pete up to Alaska. Generous with free her time, Janie volunteered for various organizations through the years such as Welcome Wagon, Our Little Haven, and Stephen's Ministries.

Janie was a caring and dedicated mother who had no problem staying up late to help her kids with their homework. She always made sure they had just what they wanted in their lunches leaving little notes on their napkins reminding them just how much she cares. Volunteering her help from Boy Scouts to Campfire and swim meets, she was an involved mom as well. Janie was over the moon when her only grandchild came into the world. Visits to the St. Louis Carousel, trips to get ice cream, and shopping were top of the list.

Janie was a loving and devoted wife of Pete for 54 years. She was mother of Peter II (Judith) and Mary Brittany (Alex); grandmother of Madison Shay; sister of John (Lois), Kathie (Dennis), Steve (Kim), and Philip; Godmother of Kendall and Caroline; aunt of Lisa, Jim, Michael, Mark, Kendall, Matthew, Patrick, Taylor, Deneil, David, Caroline, Ben, Griffin. Dear friend of many. She will be deeply missed.

She is predeceased by her parents Harold and Theresa (Betanzos) Dobson, brother Robert, and niece Meghan.

Services: Funeral Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1355 Motherhead Rd., Cottleville, MO 63304, Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Interment at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Janie loved flowers, but if preferred, gifts in her name may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at https://mssociety.donordrive.com/campaign/Janie-Knese . Visitation at the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Road at Holloway, Tuesday, October 26 from 2-6 p.m. Friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.