The Marnie Knaak Music & Resilience Foundation was born out of both deep love and profound loss.

Marnie Knaak was a radiant spirit — a kind and loving mother of five, a devoted wife to George, and a loyal friend. She adored The Beatles, cherished her children, and celebrated the traditions that bind generations together. She was also a passionate advocate for her son Will’s education, working through the PTA, advanced learning programs, and athletics to ensure he had every opportunity to excel and exceed. Whether on the field, in the classroom, or at home, Marnie believed in nurturing her children’s strengths and giving them space to shine.

However, her life was not untouched by hardship. Like so many, Marnie knew the silent weight of trauma and the courage it takes to keep showing up for others while carrying pain of her own. But she also knew the healing power of music and compassion.

On a chilly Friday night in February 1996, George stayed up late watching television with his 11-year-old son, Will, in the den of their modest Austin home. Suddenly, tragedy struck — the house caught fire. George and Will, still inside, crawled towards safety. As they made their way out, Will shouted one more devastating truth: “I couldn’t find Mom.”

George managed to get Will outside, then ran back into the flames to search for his wife. Blinded by smoke and desperately calling her name, he felt his way along the walls, nearly collapsing from the heat and suffocation. Firefighters eventually found Marnie in the bedroom. She had been overcome by smoke and collapsed before George could reach her. Marnie never regained consciousness. She passed away three weeks later, at just 53 years old.

Her loss shattered the family. For Will, then twelve, the trauma was life-altering. Displaced from his home and neighborhood, unable to return to where he grew up or play sports with his friends, he turned to the one thing that still gave him strength: music.

Music ran deep in the Knaak family. George, a former member of the legendary 13th Floor Elevators, carried music not just as a profession but as a way of life. After the fire, George continued to share that love of music with his children, using it as a source of comfort, healing, and continuity in the midst of devastating change. His strength and quiet resilience helped keep Marnie’s spirit alive for their family.

For Will, music became more than a refuge — it was a lifeline. What began as a tool for survival grew into a lifelong calling to heal, connect, and inspire others through sound. Guided by both his mother’s compassion and his father’s enduring musical influence, Will found a way to transform personal pain into purpose.

Marnie’s legacy reminds us that honoring our roots and sharing our traditions can bring comfort, spark creativity, and strengthen the bonds that sustain us.

Years later, Will — now a professional musician and trauma survivor — co-founded The Marnie Knaak Music & Resilience Foundation in her honor. What began as a tribute to her life has grown into a mission to provide trauma-informed music education and creative therapy for children and families — especially for those who, like Will, know what it means to endure loss and still keep moving forward.

Today, the Foundation stands as a living tribute to Marnie’s love and advocacy, George’s resilience, and Will’s journey through music. Rooted in empathy and fueled by creativity, it offers young people navigating adversity a safe space to express, connect, and heal. We believe that every child deserves that chance — because music is more than sound; it is a powerful key to unlocking resilience.