Leo Allen Knuckles, born 30 June 1952, died Feb 2014, Formerly Homeless

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Leo was a caring and loving man. He was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War, serving in the US Army. He had been married to Mona Gibson, whom he married in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in February, 1972. Together they had 2 children.

He experienced homelessness for a time in Indianapolis, but was housed through HVAF in his own apartment. He gave up that apartment to live in a family setting with Brett and Amy (see comments below) where he became a father figure to Amy and a grandpa to their son. He had medical issues and was on oxygen. He went to the Indianapolis VA Hospital as needed.

He died peacefully in his sleep in Brett’s house. The VA took care of the funeral arrangements. His place of burial is still unsure but may be at New Crown Cemetery.

14 thoughts on “Leo Allen Knuckles, born 30 June 1952, died Feb 2014, Formerly Homeless”

  1. mona gibson

    i was married to a leo knuckles i have 2 children. We have been looking for him for years how do i get his death certificate. His bday would have been june 30th 1952 middle name Allen. where do you bury these homeless people? Any info helps

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    1. mikeschwing Post author

      This page will tell you how to get a birth or death certificate in Indiana. http://www.in.gov/isdh/20444.htm
      Neither are public information. I cannot say if the one who died here could be your husband.Generally family buries the homeless. The trustee can pay for burial if there is no known family and if they did not belong to a church which might pay for burial. New Crown Cemetery seems to handle a lot of burials of homeless and formerly homeless persons. There are over 700 memorial pages I put up which I have not looked up yet for obits, Findagrave.com memorials, other info online. Sometimes even Social Security is not notified. The following is the only mention of Leo Knuckles I can find: “Jeremy Allen Boyles, age 16, of 511 East Jackson Street, Columbia City, IN died at 10:36 p.m. on Sunday, May 26, 2002 at the Lutheran Hospital of Indiana, Fort Wayne, IN. He was born on August 7, 1985 in Columbia City, IN to Douglas Allen and Brenda Kay (Knuckles) Boyles.

      Jeremy has spent his entire lifetime in Whitley County and he was a former high school student and loved music.

      He is survived by his mother, Brenda Kay (John Clark) Steele of Columbia City, IN; father, Douglas Allen (Amy S.) Boyles of Fort Wayne, IN; 2 brothers, Tristan Eugene Boyles of Fort Wayne, IN and Gary Allen Woodard, Jr. of South Whitley, IN; grandparents, Carl E. ”Bud” and Alice Knuckles of South Whitley, IN and Earl and Barbara Jean Axson of Fort Wayne, IN; 1 aunt, Carla Couch of South Carolina and 1 uncle, Leo A. Knuckles of Indianapolis, IN. Also surviving are his best friend, Jamie L. Weeks of Columbia City, IN and several aunts and uncles.” I cannot find even a Social Security record on Ancestry.com.

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    2. Amy Miller

      Mona, my name is Amy Miller and I was very close to Leo. My husband met him at the VA hospital,. My son calls him Papa, and I miss him greatly… At the time he passed i didn’t deal with it and wish I would have taken care of things. This is the first time I’ve looked up his burial site. You and I had the honor of knowing an awesome man. Please get ahold of me if you want, I’d love to talk to you… have heard many stories of you, he talked about your pretty red hair often..;)3176954865

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      2. MichaelSchwing Post author

        Yes I would but no one has contacted me in years. Mona and I were talking in texts but whenever I called the above number I never got a response and gave up.

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  2. mikeschwing Post author

    I don’t know. That and an arrest record for public intoxication 10/23/2003, released next day, born 6/30/1952 is the only information I can find onliine on a man of this name. There is also one with an address in Fort Wayne who could be the same man.

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  3. Brett Jackson

    contact number 317 617 0077,, Leo passed away in my apt. as he laid sleeping My name is Brett Jackson

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    1. Mona L Gibson

      I cannot believe this but his mother father and sister has passed. He has a sister and 5 kids. We all were looking but never thought. Thank-you. I will talk to his kids. If this is your number still planning reply.

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  4. Mona L Gibson

    This is Mona Gibson his first wife, married February 5th, 1972. We had 2 beautiful children, Dusty Dawn Knuckles born July,25th 1972. His son John Carl Knuckles was born on September 22nd, 1973 at Whitley Co Hospital. Leo has 3 other children in Texas and 1 in Ohio. I will let them post. I will inform them. I met Leo when I was 15, he was 17. He lived Hockey. Him and his buddies played with the Pepsi Loner Jr’s. He loved it, he has a bump on his nose that he told everyone it was from Hockey Puk, him and sisters Brenda and Carla looked like their Mama, a Beautiful and Sweet woman.I just ask God to forgive him and me. I was unkind to him the last time I saw him. I know Leo Loved his family and especially his children. I do not know anyone that had an unkind word about him. I know he is with the Angels playing Hockey. Dear God give Leo hugs and kisses for me and ask him to Forgive me. R.I.P. Leo, we were kids having kids. I forgive you.

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