Kenneth L. Knieriem

Kenneth Layton Knieriem, age 87, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2025, surrounded by family at home in Essex, Md. The last of his days were spent basking in the sun on the porch he loved as he watched the leaves fall, boaters traveling and wildlife along Back River. He reminisced about his lifetime of adventures spent on the water from Connecticut to Florida to Ocean City and along the Chesapeake Bay & Eastern Shores of Maryland.

He was a loving Son to the late Philip J. Knieriem Jr. a Veteran of The Armed Forces of The United States and Elsie R. Knieriem nee Layton a supporter of the Blue Cross & retiree of the State of Maryland. Kenny was born on December 26,1937 in Grandmother Layton’s home in Highlandtown, MD where he spent most of his earlier years of life before moving to Catonsville then Middlesex, MD with his dearest Mother.

He was the beloved Nephew to the late Uncle Kenneth (namesake) & Aunt Doris Layton and Uncle William (Bill) Knieriem & cousin to late William Knieriem Jr.

As a young man Ken was merited commendation of scholarship, received the Flavilla Johnson Certificate of Honor for outstanding qualities of citizenship & obtained his Certificate of Business Occupations from the Samuel Gompers General Vocational School in Baltimore, MD. Thereafter, Ken began his career including working for Baltimore Gas Electric Service and worked for a few other companies before securing one of his most privileged positions as an employee of The State of Maryland with the Office of Procurement and Supply for the University of Maryland at Baltimore. Ken retired after 25+ years of dedicated service that he viewed as a truest honor serving the people of his state.

Ken was also a devoted caregiver & life partner to Catherine Elizabeth Howe love of his life for 18+ years. Together they enjoyed traveling both near & far to visit family and friends, dancing, listening to music & sharing in the faith of God as active members in Essex United Methodist Church where Ken volunteered as an Usher regularly.

After Catherine’s passing alongside his adopted family & caregivers Rosemary & Melanie Mattheu, Ken continued serving people by donating his time to local causes & organizations. He helped The Gabby Girls Ladies Club a supporter of the Family Crisis Center a shelter for battered women & children, collecting supplies, assisting with the children’s events and the Annual Angel Project helping over 30+ families each holiday season. He found great delight in supporting The MD State Game & Fish Protective Association sharing in the vision of conservation of natural resources & wildlife in America through fundraisers, children’s programs, bull roasts & deliveries of food over the holidays to veterans, elderly & families in need.

Ken was passionate about dining, numbers, cheering on his favorite sports teams, The Boston Celtics & The Baltimore Ravens, talking about the cars he owned, watching Westerns, gameshows & the Hallmark channel, caring for the family pets & working in the yard.

He treasured spending time with family & friends including calls about the good old days with his Cousins, watching over the family children, attending school functions, concerts, or games, chatting with neighbors, playing Nickles with his closest buddies, traveling to Essex Motorcycle Club on Friday nights, going to Karaoke, trips to Ocean City with his Ladies, visiting Zahradka Family Farm and enjoyed gatherings at home or talks on the porch.

Kenny is survived by his most cherished cousins Carol & Ed Hayduk, Susan & Ray Burns and Terri Davis & partner Robert Baroody along with their generations of Layton family members and his half-sister Mary Ridgely & husband Steve.

Ken is also survived by the family of the late Ethel Mae Savage, his dear friend and cousin to his Catherine as his adopted family including Rosemary & Melanie Mattheu, Joseph M. Reichert Sr. and including several members of the extended Savage & Mattheu families and many supportive friends. Mr. Ken our Angel on earth - the most respectable, serving, & sweetest of God’s creatures will surely be missed by all he touched. We are forever grateful.

A viewing will be held at Connelly Funeral Home of Essex, 300 Mace Avenue, Baltimore MD 21221 on Friday, October 31 from 2-4pm and 6-8pm. A funeral service will take place on Saturday November 1 at 10am followed by burial at Oak Lawn Cemetery.

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