Lillian Emma Knutzen 1930-2004

KNUTZEN, JACOBS, BRUHN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/30/2009 at 21:26:32

Mapleton Press
11 March 2004

Lillian Emma Knutzen was born November 19, 1930, the daughter of Herbert and Johanna Jacobs Bruhn. She died Monday, February 16, 2004, at her home in Ute, Iowa at the age of seventy-three.
Lillian was born on a farm near Mapleton, Iowa and was baptized in Christ, December 15, 1930 and later confirmed on March 25, 1945 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Soldier Township, Charter Oak, Iowa by Rev. G.H. Schaefer. She received her education at a rural school in Soldier Township and graduated from the Mapleton High School with the class of 1949. While in high school, Lillian played the organ at her church and was voted the 1948 Homecoming Queen of her school. She continued her education at Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa, majoring in music.

On July 23, 1950, Lillian was united in marriage to Lauren Knutzen at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Fairmont, Minnesota. The couple made their home in Fairmont, where Lillian worked as the church secretary at Immanuel Lutheran Church for a year. In 1964, they moved to Charter Oak, where Lillian worked as the office manager at the Charter Oak Times until 1986, at which time Lillian and Lauren managed the Oak's Lounge and Cafe. The couple retired in 1989 and moved to Ute in 1999.

Lillian was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ute and the Lydia Circle. She was very involved in church work, she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She kept busy with cooking, baking and canning tomato juice and pickles. During the holidays she made Christmas food baskets for her friends. Lillian also enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening and in her leisure time, she enjoyed crocheting and crafts, always making something out of nothing.

Lillian was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include her husband, Lauren; one sister, Gertrude Heins; children, Susan Knoblauch and Michael Guanella; Rebecca Soll and Robert Struck; Steven and Susan Knutzen; Craig and Patricia Knutzen; JoEllen and Kevin Willis; Debra Nutt; David and Juliann Knutzen; Lisa and Kyle Wiese; twenty grandchildren, Brad and Suzanne Knoblauch; Adam Knoblauch; Regina and Ben Kehl; Ryan and Jaimi Lane; Clarissa Soll; Bridget and Michael Plathe; Jeremiah Knutzen; Micah Knutzen; Melissa and Tim Johnson; Justin Knutzen; Alyssa Ward; Benjamin Ward; Zachary Willis; Amanda Nutt; Teddy Nutt; Colton Knutzen; Skyler Knutzen; Grant Knutzen; Jacob Wiese and Abby Wiese; five great-grandchildren, Eric Knoblauch; Logan Knoblauch; Hannah Kehl; Grace Kehl; Ryan Kehl and Emily Kehl; other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 20, 2004 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ute, Iowa. Rev. Ed Brandt officiated the service and grave side rites held at the St. Clair Cemetery in Ute, Iowa. Creta Teut provided the organ accompaniment. Melissa Thies was the soloist for the song, "The Lord's Prayer". The sermon hymn was "Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me' and the congregational hymns were "Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus", "How Great Thou Art" and "I Know That My Redeemer Lives". Her grandsons served as pallbearers and they were Jeremiah Knutzen, Adam Knoblauch, Micah Knutzen, Brad Knoblauch, Justin Knutzen and Ryan Lane. The family invited everyone to join them at the church for fellowship and lunch served by the LWML Ladies. The Huebner Funeral Home in Charter Oak was in charge of arrangements.