Women - Hunterdon County, New Jersey

LAZELLE KNOCKE
Lazelle Knocke, known to everyone as "Bobbie," and the prime mover toward
establishing the Family Nursing Service, was orphaned at the age of 11. She wanted to
be a physician, but because family finances were limited, she went to nursing school,
specializing in orthopedic training. She soon became head nurse on the women's
surgical floor at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, where she met her future husband, Dr.
Fred Knocke. They were married just prior to World War II. She also was working for a
master's degree in nursing, and teaching at Columbia.
Dr. Knocke was named head of the orthopedic department at the Hunterdon
Medical Center. The Knockes moved to Hunterdon County in 1953, buying a farm in
Readington Township. Mrs. Knocke had been in love with horses since a small child
and now had an opportunity to raise horses and teach her children to ride.
She looked into employment opportunities at the Medical Center but was told she
was overqualified. She then brought up the question of a nonprofit organization
providing public health nursing service in the county. The local Public Health
Association was responsive to this idea. Mrs. Knocke, who soon became president of
the Association, moved the group to perform a study of the feasibility of such a service
in the county. She met with representatives from every one of the 26 school districts
and 23 municipalities to discuss what might be done. Many municipalities felt they
didn't need additional services, while two or three expressed an interest. Over a period
of five years a community feeling of a need for home health nursing was formed, and
finally, incorporation papers were filed for the Family Nursing Service, a not-for-profit
public agency. Henrietta Siodlowski, a nurse with a Master of Public Health degree,
was hired to direct the agency.
Mrs. Knocke became president of the newly formed board of trustees. When it
became evident that fund-raising activities were needed, an annual horse show was
held on their property, with Dr. Knocke serving as manager of the show. Years later,
she became active nationally as a judge for dressage competition at horse shows. She
continues to reside on the Readington farm.
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