Peter Kniskern

Peter Jon Kniskern of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, age 73, died on April 4, 2018 at the Peter Becker Community Rehabilitation Facility in Harleysville, Pennsylvania.  He had been in declining health over the last several years. Peter was born in 1944 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, the son of Verne Burton and Edna Maki Kniskern.  Most of his childhood was spent in Charleston, Illinois where he attended the public school system there.  Peter went on to college at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where he completed undergraduate and graduate degrees in chemistry and immunochemistry.  Following completion of these degrees, he joined Merck, Sharp and Dohme where he did research on a variety of disease processes.  He was a devoted researcher, becoming the director of a lab at Merck that focused on vaccine development.  Many advances were made and knowledge gained because of his efforts.  He retired in 2009. Peter loved to spend as much time as he could at the family cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  The beauty and serenity of the area brought him great comfort and peace.  He enjoyed planning many projects around the cabin and all of the tasks associated with them.  The streams and lakes nearby offered many opportunities to fish and Peter availed himself of these opportunities as long as he was able. Peter is survived by his partner of 40 years, Arpi Hagopian.  Arpi was a wonderful constant in his life, sharing all that life brought their way.  Peter is also survived by his daughter, Heidi (Kirk) Chambers of Bainbridge, Georgia, a grandson, Ramsay Chambers, of Athens, Georgia, a granddaughter, Emily Chambers, of Bainbridge, Georgia, two brothers, David (Rebecca) Kniskern, Jonathan (Laurel) Kniskern and several nieces and nephews. The family is being assisted by the Huff & Lajker Funeral Home in Lansdale.  A memorial service for Peter will be held at the family cabin in Michigan's Upper Peninsula at a future date.   In lieu of flowers, it is kindly suggested that contributions be made to the Peter Becker Community.