Dirk A. Knowles

May 16, 1987 - November 25, 2020

Dirk A. Knowles, 33 of Bluffton, passed away on Wednesday morning, November 25, 2020. Dirk was born on May 16, 1987 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He was a 2005 graduate of Bluffton High School where he was an all-around athlete. Dirk loved to play football, baseball, and run track. He excelled as a high school football player and as a college player for the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne where he graduated in 2010. Dirk also loved individual competition and participated in many “Spartan” Races. Dirk was a beautiful man and a kind, loving, dedicated father and son. He enjoyed biking, fishing, body building, playing his piano, video games and spending time with his family but most of all he enjoyed spending time with the pride and joy of his world, his son, Hayden Knowles of Gas City. Dirk was a friend to everyone he met and would go out of his way to help those around him. Other survivors include his parents, Bruce & LaNae Golder of Bluffton, sister; Teshanna (Dominic) Monfred of Palm Harbor, FL., stepbrother Justin (Brandy) Golder and stepsister Jennifer (Miguel) Golder, both of Ormond Beach, Florida along with many cousins and aunts and uncles. A Celebration of Dirk’s life will be held at 2 P.M. on Saturday (June 26, 2021) at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends can visit with the family for an hour prior to the service. A private family burial will take place at Grove Cemetery in Poneto. Memorials may be made in Dirk’s memory to an educational fund for his son, Hayden. Checks can be made out to Bruce & LaNae Golder and mailed to the funeral home. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends can send online condolences to the family at www.thomarich.com.