Knudtson, Charles B. (1918-2013)

KNUDTSON, HAUGEN, CAROW, WENDEL, KORTH, PETERSEN, BLAHA, ALBAUGH

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 2/6/2013 at 18:44:49

Charles B. Knudtson
(June 27, 1918 - January 17, 2013)

Charles B. Knudtson, age 94, of Forest City, passed away on Thursday, January 17, 2013, at the Good Samaritan Society in Forest City, Iowa.

Charles B. Knudtson was born on June 27, 1918, to Knudt and Clara (Haugen) Knudtson on the family farm in Winnebago County, the fourth child of eight in that family. He attended rural schools including Paulson School and later Waldorf Academy, graduating in 1936.

A lifelong member of the Winnebago Lutheran Church, Charles was baptized on July 28, 1918, and confirmed there in the Norwegian language as well by Rev. H. F. Huseth on May 15, 1932. Interestingly, he could more easily memorize in Norwegian than in English. After graduation from Waldorf Academy, he worked for area farmers until he was drafted into the Army in March of 1942.

A member of Battery “B,” 47th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, he participated in five battles and campaigns: the Normandy Invasion landing on Utah Beach, Northern France, the Rhineland Campaign, the Battle of the Bulge, and the Central European Campaign. The medals he received included the Good Conduct Medal, the Bronze Star, the Bronze Service Arrowhead and the French Jubilee of Liberty Medal presented by the French Consulate on June 6, 1997, fifty-three years after that historic event. Charles was honorably discharged in October 1945, having advanced to the rank of Corporal.

On January 27, 1946, Charles married Irene Carow, daughter of Frank and Emma Carow, at Zion Lutheran Church in Edgeley, North Dakota. They made their home on a farm in Mt. Valley Township where Charles lived for the next sixty-two years. To this union three, children were born: Steven, Carolynn, and Dennis.

In his active farming days, Charles milked Holstein cows, raised hogs, and grew crops. He also served on the Coop Services Board, the Extension Council, and as a Township Trustee. Active in his church, he held offices, served on boards, and attended the Lutheran Brotherhood. He found his greatest source of joy in his faith, his family, and the land he loved.

In October 2008, Charles moved to Forest Plaza because of his failing health. In June of 2009, he moved to the Good Samaritan Society in Forest City where he was residing at the time of his death.

He is survived by a son, Steven, of Joice, Iowa, his daughter, Laurie (Greg) Wendel, of Mason City, Iowa, and his great-grandchildren: Alyssa, Morgan, and Tyler; his daughter, Carolynn (Mike) Korth, of Forest City, Iowa, and their children: Kim (Mike) Petersen, of Sammamish, Washington, and his great-grandchildren: Adler, Will, and Max; Susan (Dave) Blaha, of Clear Lake, Iowa, and his great-grandchildren: Ben and Josh and Hannah and Aaron (Shelby) Korth, of Reno, Nevada, and his great-grandchild: Addison Lynn; his son, Dennis (Cheryl), of Andover, Minnesota, and their sons: Eric, of St. Francis, Minnesota, and Craig, of Fargo, North Dakota; one brother, Robert (Delores) Knudtson; and three sisters-in-law, Ruth Knudtson, Cleone Knudtson, and Evelyn Knudtson, as well as many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Knudt and Clara (Haugen) Knudtson; his stepmother, Mabelle Knudtson; his wife, Irene, on August 30, 1998; his brothers, Ernest, James, Melburn, and Victor; and two sisters, Florence (John) Albaugh and Edith (Ray) Knutson. Blessed be his memory.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, January 22, 2013, at the Winnebago Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills, with Pastor Bill Peters officiating. Burial will be in the Winnebago Lutheran Church Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Otto Chose Post #235 of Lake Mills. Visitation will be on Monday, January 21, 2013, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street, Lake Mills, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.

Copyright © 2013, Mittelstadt Funeral Home

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