Clarksville, TN – First Sergeant (Ret.) Henry Frederick Ernest Knake, III departed this life on February 3rd, 2026.
The only son of Henry Frederick Ernest Knake, II and Hedwig “Hattie” Theresa (Urzycki) Knake, he was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Dorothy Clark, Betty Wolf, Alice Hoffman, and Henrietta “Henri” Spiris.
“Top” retired in 1976 from the U.S. Army after 20 years of service to his country, including three tours in Vietnam. After retiring from the military, he worked for Acacia Life Insurance, The Zinc Plant, and Daniels Construction before graduating with an associate degree from Austin Peay State University. He taught Welding in night classes at APSU and Clarksville-Montgomery County Vocational School. He owned and operated his own business, Henry’s Custom Welding, until he retired in 2003.
As a volunteer who reported to the National Weather Service daily, Henry had been a Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network observer in Clarksville since the program first came to Tennessee in 2007. In fact, Henry’s station was the longest active one in Montgomery County.
Henry is survived by his wife of 64 years, Glenda Maness Knake, daughter, Wendy (Brad) Osborne, Jason (Connie) Knake, grandchildren, Brant (Amanda) Osborne, Whitney (Justin) Sizemore, Kaya Knake, Bode Knake, and great grandson, Bridger Osborne.
Celebration of Life will be held at Sykes Funeral Home on February 16th, 2026. Family and friends are invited to join us from 11:00am to 12:00pm with a memorial service following. To honor Henry, please consider contributing to Hillcrest Baptist Church, where Henry was a member, Gideon’s, or Samaritan’s Purse in lieu of flowers.
Please visit Henry’s online guestbook at www.sykesfuneralhome.com and share a memory with his family.
About Sykes Funeral Home and Crematory
The caring and experienced professionals at Sykes Funeral Home and Crematory are here to support you through this difficult time. We offer a range of personalized services tailored to your family’s specific needs and preferences. You can rely on us to help you plan a personal and lasting tribute to your loved one. We will carefully guide you through the many decisions that must be made during this challenging time.
You are welcome to call us at any time, any day of the week, for immediate assistance. Or, visit our funeral home in person at your convenience. We also provide a wealth of information on our website, allowing you to learn more from the comfort of your own home.
Sykes Funeral Home is Middle Tennessee’s exclusive provider of Veterans Funeral Care. As members of this network, we deliver world-class service to former and current members of the U.S. military and their families. All package prices for this program can be found at the links above. Whether you choose a National Cemetery, burial at sea, or even a private cemetery, we guarantee that military honors will be conducted appropriately.
For more information, visit their website at www.sykesfuneralhome.com
