Calvin Remembers Lizzie Knot
“Lizzie was the most thoughtful, intentional, caring, loving, and loyal friend, and I consider myself so lucky to have been able to live a small part of this life with her,” said Kate (Klaver) Visser.
Elisabeth (Lizzie) Knot ’24, a graduate student in the Master's of Accounting (MAcc) program at Calvin University, died unexpectedly in her sleep on Sunday, January 26. She was 23 years old.
“She embodied Romans 8:28 and she knew that ‘in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’ She loved Him and knew that all things would always work out according to His purpose because of that love,’” said Sam Niewiek ‘22, Lizzie’s boyfriend. “Somehow, some way, what has happened is part of God’s plan.”
While Lizzie indeed lived by Romans 8:28, it is clear that her legacy within the Calvin community and beyond is tied to her embodiment of Galatians 5:22-23, which says “ … the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
In short, Lizzie, through the work of the Holy Spirit, demonstrated the fruit of the Spirit on a daily basis.
She was kind
“Lizzie is one of the kindest people I know. She will say yes to anything, she’s always down to do whatever and she will do it with a smile. Everyone loves Lizzie, because Lizzie is so easy to love,” said Justine Bronkhorst, a close friend and roommate.
“She valued relationships as she was a deeply caring person,” said Caleb Rush, a classmate and friend. “I told her I scheduled my CPA exam, and she reached out to me on test day two weeks after I told her.”
“I will remember her smile, laugh, and kind heart the most,” said Bronkhorst. “Her kindness was felt by anyone she came in contact with.”
“Without hesitation Lizzie showed kindness,” said Bethany Bergquist, a housemate and close friend.
She was thoughtful
Lizzie was selfless. She loved people and she made them feel seen and heard. And in doing so, she lived out Jesus’ call in Matthew 22 to both “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
“Lizzie taught all of us to put our own wants aside,” said Addi Potter, a roommate and close friend. “Us roommates would always ask, ‘Lizzie, do you ever have an opinion?’ Because she was always so go-with-the-flow, and she put others’ wants over her own. She has taught me how to live selflessly.”
“She asked great questions and was an attentive listener,” said Marilyn Stansbury, who had Lizzie for four accounting courses and served as her academic advisor. “I really enjoyed Lizzie’s approach to each of the courses for which she was one of my students. She approached the courses with curiosity and an open mind. She was reflective and chose her words carefully before responding to a given question in class. I appreciated her insightful comments and willingness to tackle challenging subject matter – and doing so with such a positive attitude!”
“Lizzie knew exactly when to listen, offer a word of advice, laugh with you, cry with you, or just sit beside you. One of the qualities I admire about her is how steady she was. If you needed Lizzie, she was always there for you no matter what,” said Visser.
She was calm and confident
When in the presence of Lizzie, her friends say they felt at peace. She walked confidently because her friends say she had a strong grasp on what really matters in life.
“Lizzie taught me how to take everything in stride,” said Niewiek. “She was always calm, cool, and collected. She never wavered. Something not go your way? ‘Brush yourself off, get back up, and keep on going’ was her answer.’”
“She never worried when we got stuck on a problem,” said Rush, who worked on several group projects in class with Lizzie over the years.
“She taught me how to be easy-going. She was so calm, mature, and wise for her age. Her calmness helped me be calm in situations where I may have not normally been,” said Bronkhorst.
She was funny
While her boyfriend listed many of Lizzie’s character qualities, there’s one, in particular, he knew Lizzie wouldn’t want him to miss.
“She would be disappointed in me if I didn’t say her greatest quality was her humor,” said Niewiek. “She was always cracking jokes and loved to hear people laugh. She wanted people to think of her as the funniest member of the Knot family, which is no easy feat. She would throw her head back and laugh at almost anything.”
“She was funny. Like real funny. She was witty, she could give me one-liners that left me thinking ‘that was so good, I can’t think of anything to say back.’ She was also so goofy. Her spirit of joy will never leave my heart,” said Berquist. “Our living room was filled with so many evenings of us four girls laying around and laughing so hard. Those are the memories I will hold most dear.”
“Her playful humor could bring a smile to anyone, in any situation,” said Josh ‘23, Drew ‘20, and Lorin Smits ‘18, close friends of Lizzie and her family.
She spread joy everywhere
But it was her smile that was contagious. Lizzie’s smile was one way she exuded joy.
“Lizzie had such a warm, genuine smile that would make those around her smile,” said Stansbury.
“I will remember her smile the most,” said Potter. “As I’m sitting here writing this, I just picture her smiling at me, because that’s who she was. She was always smiling and in good spirits.”
“I will remember how she found joy in everything and how she didn't worry about tomorrow,” said Rush. “I remember asking her if she had studied for a test and she would tell me ‘that is a tomorrow problem.’ She was enjoying the moment with her friends and didn’t want to worry about school.
She loved her family deeply
While Lizzie loved her friends, her family had a special place in her heart. Just ask her friends.
“She loved her family. So much,” said Bronkhorst. “She always spoke so highly of all of her siblings and parents and how they were so close.”
“Being the youngest of six, Lizzie looked up to each of her siblings and learned something from each of them,” said Josh, Drew, and Lorin Smits. “Maybe she learned too much as she routinely took down her siblings on the soccer field and tennis court. But, above all, she loved each one of them deeply.”
“Lizzie loved her family and took pride in talking about them. She always had such a big smile on her face when they came up in conversation,” said Potter.
Above all, she loved her God
And her love for her family and friends reflected a deeper love for her God.
“Lizzie loved everyone and anyone fearlessly and deeply,” said Bergquist. “Her love was evident by the way she spoke about her family and friends and her actions reflected the hands and feet of Jesus.”
“Lizzie’s faith was evident in everything she did. The way she treated others, the way she spoke of her family and friends, the way she made people feel special, and the love she brought everywhere she went,” said Bronkhorst. “God was working through her her entire life and was spreading His love through her.”
“She loved the Lord our God through her humor, athletics, confidence, and most of all, her faith,” said Niewiek
Faith becomes sight
And now as Lizzie’s faith has become sight, her family and friends take comfort in knowing that she is at home with her Savior.
“While the pain is deep and the days without her here will be hard, I am rejoicing in the fact that she is home with Jesus,” said Visser. “I was lucky enough to see Lizzie’s faithfulness and love for the Lord in her everyday life. Knowing she is reunited with her Heavenly Father brings me so much peace.”
“How blessed we were to have known and been so near to Lizzie,” said Bergquist.
“As a man of faith, I cling to the hope that we will see Lizzie again someday,” said Niewiek. “I know it to be true.”
Lizzie is survived by her parents Craig and Deborah (nee Blauw) Knot; sisters Mariel (Brian) Haverdink, Anneke (Logan) Vos, Juliana Knot; brothers Andrew and David Knot; four nieces and nephews; grandparents Rev. Richard (Linda) Blauw and Joan Knot. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025 from 2-8 p.m. at Smits Funeral Home (2121 Pleasant Springs Lane, Dyer, IN). A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. at First Orthodox Presbyterian Church (16248 South Park Ave, South Holland, Illinois). The service will also be livestreamed.