Van Devon Knauss was born in Colorado on Aug. 12, 1938, to Henry J and Elizabeth Zeigler Knauss. He died at home in Silver Spring, Md., on December 23, 2025 after living with multiple myeloma for eight years. Van spent his childhood on a farm in Aurora, Colo., and in Denver, Colo., near the ski slopes he loved. He earned a bachelor’s in Mathematics from Union College in Lincoln, Neb., a master’s in music from University of Nebraska (Lincoln) where he studied with Dr. Myron J. Roberts, and a DMA in organ performance from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., with guidance from Dr. Conrad Bernier. Van began his musical career in 1963 in New York City as organist for the religious television program “Faith for Today.” While in New York, he studied with Dr. Claire Coci. In 1967, Van became a professor of music (and later the department chair) at Columbia Union College (now Washington Adventist University) in Takoma Park, Md., and served as the church organist at Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church. Over the years, he heard from many former students who remembered that he insisted on excellence, but was always warm and kind. During this time, he performed in recital and with collegiate choirs and orchestras across the United States and Europe. For more than fifty years he was the church organist at Hughes United Methodist Church in Wheaton, Md.. Later, he worked with Weichert Realtors in Morris Plains, N.J., and Bethesda, Md. Van’s greatest joy was his family. He taught his son Kris to ski when he was just five years old. Over the next 30 years, Kris and Van skied the major slopes across the USA, Austria, and Canada. He was delighted to invite his grandchildren for many visits to museums, fairs, historic places and annual beach vacations. In recent years, Van enjoyed attending frequent brunches around town with his family. Nephews and nieces from around the USA often traveled to spend time with him, too. In his leisure time, Van enjoyed studying and collecting Civil War items and American horse-drawn tin toys. He was a long-time member of the American Antique Toy Collectors Club. Van was preceded in death by his parents, his twin sister, Velmajean Robinson (’60), and his brother Carroll Knauss ’59. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Pat ’63; son, Kristen Knauss, his daughter-in-law Pearl Knauss; and three beloved grandchildren, Bria Warren, Sydney Knauss and Grant Knauss. He will also be missed by his nieces, nephews, their children and grandchildren, and a great circle of friends.