of Heinrich's death, his brother August was living in Mitchell, Ontario.

Knoke, Henry Fredrick and Caroline (Barth)

(George Knoke)

Henry Fredrick Knoke was born 16 Mar 1869 in Logan, Ontario, Canada, the son of Heinrich F. and Justine (Ronenberg) Knoke. Henry married Caroline Barth 26 Apr 1892 in Canada. Caroline was born 4 Apr 1867 in Mitchell, Ontario. Henry and Caroline had 6 children: Clarence Vic-tor born 21 Apr 1894 in Winneshiek Co. IA married Mildred Melissa Feltis 2 Jan 1918 at the Lutheran Parsonage in Decorah, IA. Clarence and Mildred had 3 children: Victor Clarence (b. 28 Jul 1919 and died the same day); George Henry and Mae Caroline. Laura Anna born 20 Dec 1896 married Victor Berge 27 Feb 1924. Victor died 20 Aug 1949. Laura married Clem Headington 14 Oct 1951. Clem died 19 Nov 1951 and Laura died 27 Nov 1976. Edwin Roger born 22 Dec 1900 married Gladys Medberry. Gladys was born 13 Apr 1902 and died 19 Dec 1969. Edwin married Maybelle Brown 27 Oct 1972. Edwin died 2 Oct 1979 and Maybelle died in 1989. Ernest Walter born 7 Apr 1903 married Gladys Ruffridge 2 Mar 1927. Gladys was born 24 Jul 1907. Ernest died 4 Aug 1965 and Gladys died 19 Jan 1987. Lillie Pearl born 11 Feb 1905 married Bennie Berg 24 Feb 1932. Bennie was born 8 Mar 1906 and died 2 Dec 1985. Lillie is presently residing at the Aase Haugen Home as of Oct 1995. Delbert Henry born 6 Aug 1906 married Odessa Davis in 1930. They divorced and Delbert married Stella Kohl in 1944. Delbert died 22 Nov 1957.

Knudson, Karl and Claraphan (Camphuong)

(Karl Knudson)

Karl George Knudson was born in Decorah IA, the son of George and Shirley (Lembke) Knudson. He graduated from Decorah High School in 1968. He graduated with honors from St. Olaf College in 1972. He obtained a J.D. degree from the University of Iowa School of Law in 1978. Karl is an attorney and served as Winneshiek Co. Attorney from 15 Nov 1990 through the end of 1994.

Claraphan Camphuong was born in Dalat, Vietnam, the daughter of Phan Vinh Trung and Sam Thi Tran. Her maiden name was Phan Thi Cam Phuong. Her father, Phan Trung was an architect and engineer who was born in 1912 and built numerous bridges, railroads, and villas in South Vietnam. The Phan family left as refugees to the United States in late April of 1975. Clara attended Luther College beginning in the fall of 1975, and obtained her bachelor’s degree in 1979.

Karl met Claraphan while she attended Luther College. They married at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 20 May 1978.

The Knudsons have four children: Karla; Christina; Michael and Jonathan.

Knudson, George Ellert and Shirley (Lembke)

(Karl Knudson)

George Ellert Knudson was born 25 May 1915 in Junction City, Wl, the son of Ellert Knudson and Charlotte (Berg) Knudson. George’s grandparents had emigrated to America from Norway. His father, a pharmacist, died when George was four years old.

George attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, during the Great Depression. After obtaining his B.A. degree in chemistry at St. Olaf, George went on to obtain an M.A. in chemistry, enabling him to begin teaching.

During the pre-war years, George saved money to buy a small single-engine airplane which he learned to fly. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, George enlisted in the Air Force. However, when tests revealed that he was color blind, he was not allowed to become a pilot. Instead, he was trained at the University of Chicago to become a meteorologist. While attending school there, he met Shirley Lembke of St. Paul, MN and the two were married 31 Mar 1943. Shortly thereafter, George was shipped out to Iceland where he worked on predicting the weather in Europe.

After the war ended, George mustered out of the Air Force as a Major and returned to Chicago where he joined Shirley and began working for the Sherwin Williams Co. as a chemist.

Feeling that he could make a more significant contribution as a chemistry teacher in a Christian liberal arts college, George wrote to Luther College. In 1948, George accepted a call to begin teaching at Luther at one third of his Sherwin Williams salary - a decision he never regretted. George and Shirley moved to Decorah with their 2 year old son, Ralph Ellert Knudson, who had been born in 1946 in Chicago. While in Decorah, George and Shirley had two more children, Nancy Lois and Karl George.

While teaching at Luther, George finished his Ph.D. degree at the University of Iowa. George eventually became Chairman of the Luther Chemistry Department.

While living in Decorah, George was involved in a number of community activities. In 1958, he was among the organizers of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and negotiated the purchase of its present site. In the early 1960’s he served as the Civil Defense director for Winneshiek Co. in a voluntary capacity. During the 1960’s, he was the Scoutmaster of a very active Boy Scout troop at Good Shepherd Church. He and Shirley helped to organize the Decorah Square Dancers. George was active in his later years with the Luren Singers. George and Shirley also were foster parents for several children.

George served on the Iowa State Preserves Board after being appointed by Governor Ray and was its Chairman for many years. George served on the Board of Directors of the Iowa Academy of Science for many years. George also served on the Board of Directors of the EWALU Bible Camp near Strawberry Point, IA.

George authored three books while living in Decorah: A Guide to the Upper Iowa River; A Self-Guiding Tour of Decorah: and Decorah Trolls and Trails. George and