Rodney "Rod" Knox

July 19, 1950 — February 17, 2026

Rodney Knox

Service Details

Rodney Edwin Knox, age 75, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at Kavanagh House in Des Moines, surrounded by his loving family.

Rod was born on July 19, 1950, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Corvus and Edith (McAninch) Knox. He graduated from East High School in 1968 and proudly served in the United States Marine Corps.

Rod dedicated his entire career to the construction industry as a general contractor. He owned and operated NewCastle Homes for eight years before expanding into the commercial market, where he served as President of Contractors Group, LLC until his retirement in 2025. He took great pride in his work and the relationships he built throughout his career.

A gifted woodworker, Rod found joy in building and creating with his hands. He was a lifelong baseball fan, especially devoted to the Kansas City Royals, and played fast-pitch softball for many years. An avid golfer and fisherman, he cherished annual fishing trips to Canada with his sons and brother-in-law. He also loved spending summer days and vacations in Arkansas on the boat with his family, where laughter, sunshine, and time together meant more to him than anything else. Rod enjoyed showcasing his 1959 Ford Galaxie 500 at car shows and treasured trips to Jamaica with his wife and close friends, the Christensons. In recent years, he and Pam embraced their “snowbird” chapter, spending the past five winters in Port Isabel, Texas.

Rod is lovingly survived by his wife of 57 years, Pam Knox; his sons, Ty (Maggie) Knox and Clint (Fran) Knox; his cherished grandchildren, Charlie, Chloe, Cormac, and Everett; and his sister, Vicki (Don) Stevens.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Jeff Knox.

Services will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place at Pine Hill Cemetery after the funeral. For those unable to attend the service in person, it will be livestreamed the day of through the link below.

Memorial contributions may be directed to either Tunnels to Towers or Kavanaugh House.