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October 9, 2026
Services
A memorial service will be announced at a later date.
Emroy "Roy" Knaus, 92, a longtime resident of Wayne, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2026 surrounded by his loving family.
Roy was born on September 16, 1934, in St. Louis, Missouri, the only child of the late John and Emma Knaus. Roy's remarkable life was shaped early by the love of his life, Joyce. As a teenager, Roy worked as a tour guide at Meramec Caverns, where he met Joyce. On Christmas Eve 1955, he asked for her hand in marriage, and the two were later married at St. Anthony's Church in Sullivan, Missouri. Their marriage became the foundation of a life filled with family, adventure, accomplishment and enduring love.
Shortly before graduating from Washington University in St. Louis, Roy was commissioned into the United States Air Force. He became a T-28 pilot and attained the rank of First Lieutenant. During the early years of their marriage, Roy and Joyce lived in Corpus Christi and San Antonio, Texas; Topeka, Kansas; Boston, Massachusetts; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where their sons, Mark and Brian, were born.
Roy had an extraordinary passion for learning. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Washington University, an MBA from Harvard University and a PhD in Applied Economics from the Wharton School. After spending three years in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where their daughter, Chris, was born, Roy accepted a position with American Cyanamid in Wayne, New Jersey. The family moved to West Milford in 1970 and then to Wayne in 1980, where Roy made his home for the remainder of his life.
Following his career with American Cyanamid, Roy entered the financial services industry as a Financial Planner and earned his CFP designation. But his lifelong love of learning ultimately drew him to academia. He became a professor at William Paterson University, earned tenure and taught in the university's MBA Strategic Planning program. Teaching became one of the great joys of his professional life, and he continued doing what he loved until retiring at the remarkable age of 83.
Outside of his professional accomplishments, Roy treasured the life he shared with Joyce. They loved spending time at their other homes in Bethany Beach, Delaware, and Lake Wallenpaupack, Pennsylvania, and together traveled the world, visiting Thailand, Hong Kong, Paris, Monaco, Austria, Switzerland, Cancun, Costa Rica, and much of the United States, especially enjoying the National Parks of the Western United States. In their 50’s they also took up running and he finished both the Marine Corp and New York City Marathons. He also had a lifelong passion for boating and spent many hours on his boats.
Roy was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Knaus. He is survived by his sons, Mark Knaus and his wife, Julie, of Rancho Cucamonga, California, and Brian Knaus of Wayne, New Jersey; his daughter, Chris Knaus and her husband, Ed Sofield, of Long Valley, New Jersey; and his four granddaughters, Elisabeth Black of Savannah, GA, Jenna Black of Denville, NJ, Cydney Black of San Antonio, TX and Violet Knaus of Rancho Cucamonga, CA. He also leaves behind many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends, including the many friendships he maintained with former American Cyanamid colleagues and his much loved “discussion group”.
Roy lived a life defined by curiosity, achievement, family and friends. He will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Roy's memory to the Alzheimer's Association, in honor of Joyce and the disease that took his loving wife.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date.
October 10, 2026
October 9, 2026
Services
A memorial service will be announced at a later date.
Emroy "Roy" Knaus, 92, a longtime resident of Wayne, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2026 surrounded by his loving family.
Roy was born on September 16, 1934, in St. Louis, Missouri, the only child of the late John and Emma Knaus. Roy's remarkable life was shaped early by the love of his life, Joyce. As a teenager, Roy worked as a tour guide at Meramec Caverns, where he met Joyce. On Christmas Eve 1955, he asked for her hand in marriage, and the two were later married at St. Anthony's Church in Sullivan, Missouri. Their marriage became the foundation of a life filled with family, adventure, accomplishment and enduring love.
Shortly before graduating from Washington University in St. Louis, Roy was commissioned into the United States Air Force. He became a T-28 pilot and attained the rank of First Lieutenant. During the early years of their marriage, Roy and Joyce lived in Corpus Christi and San Antonio, Texas; Topeka, Kansas; Boston, Massachusetts; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where their sons, Mark and Brian, were born.
Roy had an extraordinary passion for learning. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Washington University, an MBA from Harvard University and a PhD in Applied Economics from the Wharton School. After spending three years in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where their daughter, Chris, was born, Roy accepted a position with American Cyanamid in Wayne, New Jersey. The family moved to West Milford in 1970 and then to Wayne in 1980, where Roy made his home for the remainder of his life.
Following his career with American Cyanamid, Roy entered the financial services industry as a Financial Planner and earned his CFP designation. But his lifelong love of learning ultimately drew him to academia. He became a professor at William Paterson University, earned tenure and taught in the university's MBA Strategic Planning program. Teaching became one of the great joys of his professional life, and he continued doing what he loved until retiring at the remarkable age of 83.
Outside of his professional accomplishments, Roy treasured the life he shared with Joyce. They loved spending time at their other homes in Bethany Beach, Delaware, and Lake Wallenpaupack, Pennsylvania, and together traveled the world, visiting Thailand, Hong Kong, Paris, Monaco, Austria, Switzerland, Cancun, Costa Rica, and much of the United States, especially enjoying the National Parks of the Western United States. In their 50’s they also took up running and he finished both the Marine Corp and New York City Marathons. He also had a lifelong passion for boating and spent many hours on his boats.
Roy was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Knaus. He is survived by his sons, Mark Knaus and his wife, Julie, of Rancho Cucamonga, California, and Brian Knaus of Wayne, New Jersey; his daughter, Chris Knaus and her husband, Ed Sofield, of Long Valley, New Jersey; and his four granddaughters, Elisabeth Black of Savannah, GA, Jenna Black of Denville, NJ, Cydney Black of San Antonio, TX and Violet Knaus of Rancho Cucamonga, CA. He also leaves behind many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends, including the many friendships he maintained with former American Cyanamid colleagues and his much loved “discussion group”.
Roy lived a life defined by curiosity, achievement, family and friends. He will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Roy's memory to the Alzheimer's Association, in honor of Joyce and the disease that took his loving wife.
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