Fireman of the Year. He has worked in law enforcement for more than 40 years. He and his wife Cathy have been married for 37 years and have four children.
Paul Schmitt
Archbishop Fulton Sheen Council No. 10938, El Paso A Knight for 27 years, Schmitt is a past district deputy, grand knight, deputy grand knight, financial secretary and trustee. He started the 40 Cans for Lent program that has grown to more than 3,000 items being donated each year. He has chaired the councils and districts Free Throw Contest for six years and provides a meal at council meetings every other month to encourage attendance. At St. Mary Parish he has been a trustee and Annual Diocesan Appeal coordinator for seven years. He serves as a lector, ex- traordinary minister of Holy Communion, usher, and adult altar server. He leads the rosary every Friday and has built church furnishings including kneelers, a confessional, a back altar, tabernacle stand, and holy oil cabinet. In the community, Schmitt has served for 12 years on the El Paso School Board. He has been American Legion Commander and on its funeral honor guard. He was a coach for boys baseball and girls softball, and sup- ports the Womens Care Center, food pantry, and Special Olympics. He has received the Distinguished Toastmas- ter award. He and his wife Beth have been married 44 years and have five children.
Robert J. Strupp
St. Ambrose Council No. 12576, Milan Strupp is a 27-year member of the Knights of Colum- bus who has served as grand knight, financial secretary, chancellor, and youth and vocations director of his coun- cil. In addition, he has chaired the councils taco supper, pancake breakfast and seder meals. He has received the Knight of the Year and Distinguished Grand Knight awards. At St. Ambrose Parish, he is a lector, ex- traordinary minister of Holy Communion, and altar server. He has built the churchs main altar, seating for the priest and serv- ers, and an altar of repose and tabernacle. He has also restored the angel and Sacred Heart statues. Strupp works at the food pantry and delivers Christ- mas meals for the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He and his wife Sharon have been married for 53 years and have two children.
Scott M. Wiesbrook
Father John Hecht Council No. 13103 A 24-year member of the Knights of Columbus, Wiesbrook has served as grand knight, financial secre- tary, treasurer, recorder and trustee of his council. Under his guidance as grand knight, the council achieved the Double Star Council Award. He founded and chaired the First Degree team and chairs the council's Lenten fish frys, roadside cleanup committee and essay contest. He also created and maintains the councils website. He has received the Knight of the Year and Family of the Year awards. At St. Thomas Parish, Wiesbrook is a lector and ex- traordinary minister of Holy Communion. He organized the replacement of the rectory room and the remodel of council, stewardship committee, and has led Christ Re- news His Parish weekends. In addition, he does parish maintenance including snow shoveling, grass mowing, and disinfecting the church after Mass. DePorter is a board member for Teens Encounter Christ and has led its weekend retreats. He volunteers at the Womens Choice Center and helped raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. He and his wife Lisa have six children.
Edward Garrett
Spalding Council No. 427, Peoria In his eight years as a Knight, Garrett has been his councils deputy grand knight, grand knight and trustee. He led the Coats for Kids campaign and clergy dinners for two years and volunteers at Friday night dinners. A member of St. Ann Parish, he has served on the WATCH program and is involved with the charismatic prayer group. Active in Cursillo, he has served on Ultreya teams and orders and purchases food for the weekends. A leader with the Central Illinois Ameri- can Society of Plumbing Engineers, his community service includes involvement in the United Way, Alzheimers Association, and Neigh- borhood House. He is a soccer coach, Cub Scout den leader and Cub Scout master for his district. Garrett and his wife Judy have been married for 38 years and have three children.
Bill Miller (posthumous)
Spalding Council No. 427, Peoria A 10-year member of the Knights at the time of his death last September, Miller was a past-president of the Spalding Council Home Corporation and later served as a director. He was an active member of St. Philo- mena Parish, serving as a trustee of the church endowment fund, president of the mens club (and emcee at its club smokers), and as a member of the building fund and building and grounds committees. He was an extraordinary minister of Holy Commu- nion and lector. He is also remembered for his service in Scouting and to seminarians. As a Scout Master, he was a recipient of the St. George Award for outstanding guidance in spiri- tual development, and served for five years as president of the Seminarian Support group. He also served on the boardoftheSouthSideiceofConcern. Miller and his wife Jane were married 53 years and have two children.
Carl E. Powell
Archbishop Schlarman Council No. 3507, Pekin Powell has served as all the chairs of his council during his 17 years as a Knight, and was grand knight twice. He assisted in building ramps for those with handicaps, headed repairs of the old council building, and led fish frys for the council and church. At St. Joseph Parish, he is a member of the parish council, on the parish security and church sanitation teams, an usher, and adult altar server. In the community, Powell was the founder and past president of the Tazewell Teen Center and started the youth out- reach in Pekin with Carl Cannon. He was past president and is current president of the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, has received the Paul Harris/Rotar- ian of the Year award twice and was the North Pekin ROCK ISLAND - Nine members of the Knights of Columbus from throughout the Diocese of Peoria will be recognized for outstanding service to the organization as well as to their parishes and communities during the annual Night of Knights Mass and banquet on Saturday, April 24. The evening will begin with a 4 p.m. Mass at St. Pius X Parish in Rock Island. The recognition banquet will follow at the Stern Center, 1713 3rd Ave., also in Rock Island, with a social hour at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Following are brief biographies of the 2021 Night of Knights honorees:
Deacon John Robert Murphy
Eugene M. Dunn Council No. 8321, Lacon Deacon Murphy is an honorary life member with 36 years of service to the Knights of Columbus. He has served his council as grand knight twice as well as vocations director, life director, and faith director and is currently a council trustee. Ordained a permanent deacon in 1992, he served his parish - Immaculate Conception in Lacon - as well as St. John XXIII in Henry, transitioning to senior status in 2016. He has been involved in re- newal programs including WATCH, Christ Renews His Parish, and Cursillo. Active in community service, he picks up meals from the food pantry for delivery to senior citizens and has worked in maintenance and volunteered as a van trans- port driver for St. Joseph Nursing Home. He bakes cook- ies and banana bread for the sick, and he and his family prepare a yearly Thanksgiving meal for parishioners. Deacon Murphy and his wife Sharon have been mar- ried 56 years and have five children.
Bakhos Alwan
Spalding Council No. 427, Peoria A member of the Knights of Columbus for 25 years, Alwan has been a chancellor and is currently a trustee of his council as well as the inside guard for the Peoria Chapter. He sets up the clubhouse hall for meetings and the din- ing room for Friday night dinners, clergy dinners, and the chili cook-off. He also assists the annual Coats for Kids and In- tellectually Disabled (Tootsie Roll) drives. He is an active member of St. Sharbel Parish, where he is a cross bearer for Mass, an usher, and a host at the parishs annual food festival and feast day celebra- tions. In the community, Alwan assists at ITOO Society functions and helps cook and serve lunch at a senior living complex twice a month. He was the primary caregiver for his mother before her death and tends to the needs of his aunt and homebound brother.
Daniel J. DePorter
St. Ambrose Council No. 12576, Milan A 26-year member of the Knights of Columbus, as grand knight DePorter guided his council to achieve the Star Council award and increased attendance and activities. He chaired the pro-life pancake breakfast and the taco dinner commit- tee; helped chair and serve meals for the homeless; served dinners for seminary scholarships, and organized the Christo- pher Columbus Mass and brunch. At St. Ambrose Parish he is an extraor- dinary minister of Holy Communion, sacristan, lector, usher/greeter, and has taught religious education. He has served on the parish
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THE CATHOLIC POST SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021
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