LEST WE FORGET 217 KNISLEY, Donald WWII Donald Knisley was born on August 7, 1923, in Wilkie, Saskatchewan. He was the eldest son of Walter and Millicent Knisley. Donald’s father worked for the CPR as a conductor. Donald also worked for the CPR in Saskatchewan. Before his war service, he worked as a wiper for the CPR. (A wiper was responsible for cleaning the engines and machinery as well as assisting the engineer as directed.) Don, nicknamed Cactus, took all his schooling in Wilkie where he was active in sports, especially hockey. In 1942, he became old enough to enlist in the navy. He joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve where he spent most of his time on the North Atlantic providing convoy security between St. John’s, Newfoundland and Londonderry, Northern Ireland. He was aboard the HMCS Kootenay (a D-class destroyer) on D-Day. The Kootenay was one of dozens of ships that landed Canadians on the Normandy coast on D-day. Following the war, Don returned home and married Marion Park (also from Wilkie) on September 4, 1944 in Edmonton. Marion served in the Canadian Navy during the war. They were married in uniform. The couple had twelve children. A number of their boys also pursued careers with the CPR. Don was transferred to Outlook where he worked as a railway engineer before returning to Wilkie in 1964. While in Outlook the family was engaged in community activities, especially sports. Marion coached a girls softball team. Upon retirement in 1981, Marion and Don moved to Comox, BC. Donald Knisley died on July 2, 1989 and is buried in the Wilkie Cemetery. KNISLEY (PARK), Marion WWII Marion Jacqueline Park was born on July 2, 1925, in North Battleford. Her parents were Andrew and Edith Park. Her family came to Canada from Scotland in the early 1900’s. Andrew and his wife settled in Saskatchewan where they ran a bake shop. Marion was raised in Wilkie and took all her schooling there. At the start of World War II, she joined the RCN and served as a WREN. Her service was mainly in Eastern Canada, but she also worked in Ottawa for a time. While still in the navy, she married a navy man, Donald Knisley, on September 4, 1944, in Edmonton. They had twelve children. After the war ended, the couple returned to Wilkie, their hometown, where Donald resumed his work with the CPR. During his career, Donald worked in Hardisty, Alberta, and the Saskatchewan towns of Wilkie and Outlook. The family moved to Outlook in the 1950’s. The following children were born in Outlook: William, David, Edith, Dean and Anna. The family spent many happy years in Outlook and were involved in community activities, especially sports. Marion coached a girls softball team. The family returned to Wilkie in 1964. After Donald’s death in 1989, Marion moved to Red Deer where she remained until her passing on May 18, 2014. She is buried beside her husband in the Wilkie Cemetery.
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