Annette E. Knofel

Annette “Ann” E. Knofel, 59, Bellevue resident from 1980-2006, died in an automobile accident near Anchorage, Alaska on July 26, 2009. Since 2006 Ann and her husband Bruce have been residents of Seward, Alaska. She was born on November 1, 1949 in San Francisco, California. A memorial service will be held at 3:30pm on Friday, August 28th at Seattle First Covenant Church.While living in Bellevue, Ann worked as a special education teacher in the Bellevue and Riverview School Districts. Ann received an Educational Specialist Degree in school psychology from Seattle University in 1996 and began working as a school psychologist in the Riverview School District. She was currently working as a school psychologist with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District in Seward, Alaska.In Bellevue, Ann was also involved in a number of church and community activities. In the 1980s Ann helped found the preschool program at Newport Covenant Church. In the 1990s Ann became involved in the Bellevue Sister Cities Association and their work with Liepaja, Latvia.Ann enjoyed many things, spending time with her family and friends, photography, poetry, traveling and exploring the outdoors with her husband. She had a passion for education and wanted to ensure that all children received quality education regardless of their ability level.She is survived by her husband, Bruce Knofel of Seward, Alaska; daughter and son-in-law Sarah and Timothy Mangum of Woodland, California; son and daughter-in-law Daniel Knofel and Kari Harlan of Richmond, Virginia; twin sister Lynnette Bates of Granite Bay, California; sister, Laverne Connery of Browns Valley, California; and half-sister Margaret Ireland of Richmond, California.The family requests that donations in her memory be made to the Ann Knofel Memorial Fund at the Bellevue Sister Cities Associate, Bellevue City Hall, Attn: Rose Running, CMO, P.O. Box 90012, Bellevue, WA 98009-9012.