December 2025

Mike Colby

I am proud to recognize Mike as our December 2025, Knight of the Month. I understand that December awards for Mike might seem somewhat predictable! In his role as the Community Director, the majority of your substantial activities are crammed into the first 4 months!

First and foremost, Mike are a regular part of our food events. He introduced Free Will Donation Beverages at our Fish Fries which generated significant revenue. For the ID drive he over came significant obstacles, creating new donation avenues which exceeded our previous years totals. His friends and local business contacts were a major source of online donations. Mike's Keep Christ in Christmas program has been embraced by the Academy with 100% art class participation, creating another bridge between the Parish and the School. Last but not least, you coordinated of our annual Christmas Party!

Mike thank you for your continued contributions, and congratulations on being our December 2025, Knight of the Month!

November 2025

John Posch

I am proud to recognize John Posch as our November 2025, Knight of the Month. As John knows, it is due to the sacrifices of the many that we are able to accomplish the things we do at our parish.

Post Covid, four years ago we were looking to restart the Café. I called you to ask if John would be interested in coming back to the Café, which he basically helped to create many years ago. I remember saying, “let’s get the Band back together!” Fortunately for us, he decided to accept!
For our various food functions, John spend days and many miles in his personal vehicle to provide the best cost and best quality for everything we make. Between purchasing, delivery, organizing, setting up and serving, each Café or Fish Fry is a 30-hour part-time job for John. Not to mention those 1.5 hour, 47-mile drives to Performance Foods in Montgomery IL.

John's dedication on behalf of our Parish and his fellow Knights are Charity, Fraternity and Unity in Action! Thank you John!

October 2025

Greg Flanagan

I am proud to recognize Greg Flanagan as our October 2025 Knight of the Month. As a past Grand Knight, he could have tried to smell the roses these past 18 months, but that has not happened!
Greg our the bimonthly FridayBLAST editor, keeping our events in focus for our members. He also consistently takes a leadership role to assist in programs, and (like when he was Grand Knight) is among the last to leave our events. Greg's experience as Financial Secretary and Grand Knight makes him the perfect mentor for our leadership team. His value to this council can’t be overstated.

September 2025

Dan Tokarz

I am proud to recognize Dan Tokarz as our September 2025 Knight of the Month. As you know, it is due to the sacrifices of the many that we are able to accomplish the things we do at our parish.

During this year’s Intellectual Disabilities Drive, Dan ( Our Financial Secretary) not only kept track of the money by shift and location, but he also walked the streets in a big way. Because we had several openings, Dan took five street shifts of over two hours each. I bet Dan walked over 60,000 steps in two days. He was our top individual volunteer, which was an incredible commitment of time and physical effort.

Congratulations Dan on being our September 2025 Knight of the Month!

August 2025

Kent Deener

I am proud to recognize Kent as our August 2025 Knight of the Month. As you know, it is due to the sacrifices of the many that we are able to accomplish the things we do at Holy Family.

Ken has been a dependable volunteer at our monthly Café’s and Fish Fries, regularly taking whatever role we need from you. He has taken on a lot of different jobs! We also appreciate your help at other Knights organized events like Faith Feeds and Feed My Starving Children.

Thank you Kent your continued contributions!

July 2025

Robert Wagner PGK

Bob been a Knight for 19 years; and our 13th Grand Knight serving from 2010 to 2011. As life threw health challenges his way, he still wanted to serve the council anyway he could. Bob has been our council’s Social Media director for several years. He has done a wonderful job publicizing our events! Due to his effort’s fellow parishioners, the State KofC and surrounding councils know of and attend some our events and activities.

Thank you Bob for your many contributions!

June 2025

Frank Landowski

It seems Frank is always there when we need him, wherever we need him. Frank regularly helps in the event set up crew, rolling tables and unstacking chairs. He steps in when we need servers, or a guy to lead the cleaning of the fryers annually after Easter. Frank serves with confidence, humility, and a smile! We greatly appreciate Franks's service!

May 2025

Charlie Zade

Charlie has been a dependable volunteer at our monthly Café’s and Fish Fries. He regularly washes dishes, a difficult role for a tall person, leaning over the sink for three hours. The piles of greasy pans, cups and silverware must seem never ending! He performs this job with a quiet smile, never looking for attention or praise. Volunteers like Charlie make our events successful!

April 2025

Ken Aman

I am proud to recognize Ken Aman as our April 2025 Knight of the Month.

After many years serving as our council Treasurer, Ken accepted the job of council Trustee. His experience has been very valuable to our leadership team. Ken also assumed the position of Poker Event Coordinator, coordinating dates and locations and assembling a team to work at each of our poker events. The Poker team’s efforts in the four events, generated $5843 for our council this fraternal year!

Ken"s efforts on behalf of our Parish and his fellow Knights are Charity, Fraternity and Unity in Action! Thank you Ken, for your continued contributions, and congratulations on being our April 2025 Knight of the Month!

March 2025

Mike Gilbert

This year Mike, besides being a leader in the Café kitchen, he assumed the role of Council Director. Mike helped track council events and organize activities like honor guards for the parish. He also coordinated and led the baked fish operation at the Fish Fry, and he has been a regular Poker volunteer.

Mike's efforts on behalf of his Parish and his fellow Knights is Charity, Fraternity and Unity in Action! Thank you Mike for your continued contributions, and congratulations on being our March 2025 Knight of the Month!

February 2025

John Posch

John, is the heart and soul of our monthly Café, and he originated many of the practices and menu items we serve. In fact, John purchases the food for the majority of Knights sponsored Parish events. He drives long distances, going to many stores trying to save whatever dollars he can while ensuring the quality of what we serve. Each event we run is three or four days of John's time ensuring we are ready, from toothpicks to fish and eggs. John is always the first guy working, and among the last to leave at every event.
John's efforts on behalf of our Parish and fellow Knights are Charity, Fraternity and Unity in Action! We thank John for his continued contributions, and congratulate him on being our February 2025 Knight of the Month!

January 2025

Ron Wojewoda

Ron has been a constant contributor at our Café for at least a couple of decades, and he has probably made more eggs than anyone attending Holy Family! He is regular score keeper at the annual Kringle Classic for many years. Ron is also active in our parish as a Eucharistic Minister, Usher, and as Collections Counting minister. While you are no longer a trustee, we greatly appreciate your guidance, wisdom, and Friendship!

December 2024

Mike Colby

I am proud to recognize Mike as our December 2024 Knight of the Month. It is due to the sacrifices of the many that we are able to accomplish the things we do at Holy Family.

Mike has been our Community Director a couple of years now. I have been amazed at how much this directorship does in the first six months of the year. Mike's directorship has the Intellectual Disabilities drive, which is our biggest fundraiser, you also have the Keep Christ in Christmas program, serving almost 330 kids, and he researched and planned our Christmas Party for months. He did all of this while working at most of the Café’s, Fish Fries, and at our Poker nights. I also know Mike is doing painting work at Viator House!

Mike's efforts on behalf of his fellow Knights are Charity, Fraternity and Unity in Action! Thank you Mike for your continued contributions, and congratulations on being our December 2024 Knight of the Month!

November 2024

Bob Vanselow

I am proud to recognize Bob as our November 2024 Knight of the Month. As you know, it is due to the sacrifices of the many that we are able to accomplish the things we do at Holy Family.

Bob's contributions are many and his service is very humble. Few people know just how many hours Bob spends setting up, wiring, and listening to the ideas of others at every food event. All morning on Saturdays, and then Bob is among the last to leave on Sunday. Also, the time he spends preparing for, and serving at our corporate mass.

Bob is also are involved in the majority of the planning and execution of some of our programs, like the changes to our Scholarship program.

Bob's efforts on behalf of your fellow Knights are Fraternity and Unity in Action! Thank you for the continued contributions, and congratulations to Bob on being our November 2024 Knight of the Month!

October 2024

Rich Surma

Rich has quietly worked behind the scenes as the council’s in-house artist. He creates posters for Christmas Parties, Fish Fries, and other events to help publicize them, as well as making tickets, placemats and other small touches that make our events more special. Rich also creates personalized certificates for all of our awards which help us better honor others. He is a familiar face at our events due to his regular role as event maître d or host, assigning seats, and greeting our guests!

We also appreciate his work helping the 4th degree!

Rich, your efforts on behalf of your fellow Knights are Fraternity and Unity in Action! Thank you for your continued contributions, and congratulations on being our October 2024 Knight of the Month!

September 2024

Dan Tokarz

Dan assumed a challenging position as Financial Secretary, and his effort in this position has been incredible. First, Dan's analysis of our Café helped us better understand this event and make adjustments. Second, Dan took it upon himself to collect the proceeds from each shift at Jewel during the ID drive, working some shifts that needed help since he was there. Lastly, but more significantly, Dan personally called and wrote members (some several times) who were behind in their dues. He collected approximately $1700 in back dues, and reconnected several brothers with the council.

Your efforts on behalf of your fellow Knights are Fraternity and Unity in Action! Thank you for your continued contributions, and congratulations on being our September 2024 Knight of the Month!

August 2024

Frank Biank

I am proud to recognize you as our August 2024 Knight of the Month.
As you know, it is due to the sacrifices of the many that we are able to
accomplish the things we do at Holy Family.
Your help at the Café’s and Fish Fries is greatly appreciated, especially
becoming a convection oven crew member. You also secured Petersons
Bakery as a Café pastry donor, allowing us to have a fantastic sweet table
at our Café. This was a fantastic idea of yours, that you carried through to
completion!
Your efforts on behalf of your fellow Knights is Fraternity and Unity in
Action! Thank you for your continued contributions, and congratulations
on being our August 2024 Knight of the Month!

July 2024

Greg Flanagan

As you were finishing your 2-year term as Grand Knight, it could be expected that you would take a breath and put your feet up. Instead, you assumed some challenging duties which would have fallen to the new leadership team very early in their new term. You took a leadership role on the Installation Ceremony for the 2024-25 officers, the Feed My Starving Children pack night, and the Friar Johnpaul 70th birthday reception for 300, which included food procurement. You did all of this in an action packed 31 days!

Looking out for your successor and your fellow Knights is Fraternity and Unity in Action! Thank you for your continued contributions, your friendship, and congratulations on being our July 2024 Knight of the Month!

June 2024

David Swanson

Dave, Im proud to recognize you as our June 2024 Knight of the Month. As you know, it is due to the sacrifices of the many that we are able to accomplish the things we do at Holy Family.
Your consistent help at the Café, in the convection ovens and also your help cleaning up after the café is greatly appreciated. You were always among the first to arrive at every Café as the sun was rising, and among the last to leave in the afternoon. You were not just filling a job or a slot, you were there to help anyway you could.
Thank you for your contributions and your friendship, and congratulations on being Knight of the Month!

May 2024

David Piasecki

We selected Dave as our Knight of the Month for a couple reasons. First of all, Dave is a relatively new member of the council who has really jumped in with both feet… accepting various responsibilities, learning the café oven duty and so forth. Secondly, for much of this year, he has shadowed our outgoing treasurer, and will now be assuming the Treasurer position directly. For these reasons, and also for being a generally nice guy, we name Dave Piasecki as the May Knight of the Month
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April 2024

Lou Rundio

Our April Knight of the Month is Brother Lou Rundio. And it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to call this ”The Knight of the last 84 months or more”! Lou has been our council Recorder for at least seven years and he’s taking it on again next year. The Recorder is a job that is pretty much under the radar screen… not noticed by many and rarely given any praise or thanks. Somewhat invisibly, taking the meeting notes, getting them typed up and posted on the website is all behind the scenes work. Supreme guidelines requires this work gets done … especially because for various reasons, we we get called upon to ID “what we did and when we did it”. I also want to recognize “Mr Pancakes” for his contribution to the Café...especially, again under the radar, making sure the grill is squeeky clean at the end of the day. So, for those reasons, and also because he’s a great guy and a honorable gentleman, we grant the April Knight of the Month to Lou Rundio Let’s hear it for Lou!

March 2024

Frank Landowski

March ushered in Spring Training and Frank certainly took it seriously making the team as our utility infielder par excellence! At first base, he’s become a regular on the Poker team. At second, he fielded fish fry set up. He played shortstop, excelling at food serving. At third, he shone with rolled up sleeves to clean dishes. And, in extra innings, a few days after the last fish fry, he stepped up to the plate and hit it out of the park doing a lion share of the work to clean out the fryers! For all this and more we honor Frank as our March Knight of the Month !

February 2024

John Posch

John works tirelessly procuring food and supplies for all of our Knights Events. In February - March John procured for 5 Fish fries, causing 5 consecutive weeks of shopping, inventorying, set -up and serving.

January 2024

Mike Gilbert

Our January Knight of the Month is Brother Mike Gilbert. We’re recognizing Mike for two particular reasons.
As you know, for a number of years the Holy Family Gala has had an auction item called “Dinner with Terry”. In fact, a couple brothers have been the winners of that item. The Knights have provided the funding as well as the preparation and serving of the event. Mike has been the lead for the last three events and has done an excellent job of managing the budget while presenting a very attractive and tasty dinner to the guests. More visibly to most of us, Mike is a key member of our café team. He leads a good share of the kitchen staff, making sure we get things going at the right time and the food is out on the line on time and when it needs to be supplemented. Mike also serves as our council Chancellor. So for those reasons, and more, we name Mike our January Knight of the Month!

December 2023

Mike Colby

Mike took the Job as Community Director this year, and he has been "Very Busy" in his first 5 Months! Mike helped run a successful ID Drive, and then planned our first post covid Christmas Party. The Christmas Party was a great success due to the planning of Mike and his wife Marie!

November 2023

Bob Vanselow

Besides Bob's work as a Council Director, Bob also volunteers for the majority of events. Bob is usually among the first to arrive, and the last to depart. Bob's uplifting spirit and work ethic multiplies every event assignment he fills!

October 2023

Dan Ostermeyer

First - Dan is a new addition as Director of our Life Programs, and in his first 60 days he helped coordinate a Blood Drive and Holy Families participation in the Right to Life March. Dan is also our hot beverage manager at the Cafe. Thanks to Dan for Stepping Up, and Stepping Quickly into his new duties!

September 2023

Deano Dalaly

For his work coordinating money and other logistics for the Intellectual Disabilities Drive. This required lots of hours over two weekends for a guy who is very busy already! The council thanks Deano for his outstanding effort!

August 2023

Glenn Yamamoto

For his great work on the Vocations Drive and Adoration Schedule.

July 2023

Steve Scheifers

For Steve's work on the Marian Ministry, promoting devotions and adoration

June 2023

Rick McMahon

For Rick's work on the council website.