KNUTSON, Roger E. "Bud" 1931-2015

KNUTSON, HILL, WEIGLE, SIMPSON

Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 12/11/2015 at 20:05:04

Roger E. Knutson

Died: Dec 10, 2015

Services:
Tuesday, December 15, 2015, at Ascension Lutheran Church in Waterloo

Visitation:
Monday, December 14, 2015, at Locke Funeral Home

Cemetery:
Burial in Garden of Memories Cemetery

Memorials:
Ascension Lutheran Church, 2211 Maynard Avenue, Waterloo, Iowa 50701.

Biography--

Late afternoon Thursday, December 10th, Roger E. “Bud” Knutson, 83, of Waterloo passed away of a heart attack suffered earlier in the day. He was comforted by his wife Eva and niece Coleen Majewski.

Roger was born on December 14, 1931 in Eagle Grove, Iowa. He was the fifth (of six) children of Emil Alexander and Allie Marie (Hill) Knutson. Roger graduated from Orange High School in 1949 and married Eva Faye Cecak October 14, 1951 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waterloo. He was one of 26 Black Hawk County draftees called to report for service in the Korean War on November 29, 1952. He was a Sergeant First Class, Infantry, United States Army, Company “C”, 9th Infantry Regiment, in the 2nd Infantry Division. He served in combat from June 5, 1952 to April 7, 1953, earning the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service under adverse conditions. Leadership, courage, high standards and efficiency were cited in his recommendation for the medal and were a hallmark of how he lived his life. Roger also earned a Purple Heart Medal during his service.

Upon return from service to his country, Roger began a 38 year career at John Deere, entering as an apprentice draftsman and retiring as a senior designer at the Product Engineering Center in 1992. During his career at John Deere, Roger was credited with numerous patents and was a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

He loved road trips, anniversary trips, hanging out with his grandkids (who they adored and called “Poppy”), relatives and neighbors as well as cheering for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Roger was very handy both with carpentry and mechanical projects. He was all about the process of design.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents; brothers E. Howard Knutson and Robert Knutson; sisters, Alice Weigle and Marjorie Simpson.

Roger was survived by his wife Eva Knutson; daughter Kaye and John Marshall of Topeka, Kansas; son Kurt (Leanne) Knutson of Overland Park, Kansas; grandchildren: Ashlee Elizabeth (Blair) Teater, Eric John Marshall, Laura Anne Marshall, Katherine “Katie” Anne Knutson, Jack Alexander Knutson; great-grandchild, Michael James Teater; sister, Norma Neebel of Boise, Idaho; and a sister-in-law Vernetta Saffell of Waterloo.

Source: Locke Funeral Home website, 11 DEC 2015

Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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