65270_Charles B._Knudtson
FOREST CITY — Charles B. Knudtson, age 94, of Forest City, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013, at the Good Samaritan Society in Forest City, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 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 No. 235 of Lake Mills.
Visitation will be on Monday, Jan. 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 E. Main St. in Lake Mills, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.
Charles B. Knudtson was born June 27, 1918, to Knudt and Clara (Haugen) Knudtson on the family farm in Winnebago County. He was the fourth child of eight born into that family. He attended rural schools including Paulson School and later Waldorf Academy, graduating in 1936.
Charles was a lifelong member of Winnebago Lutheran Church, where he was baptized on July 28, 1918, and confirmed by the Rev. H. F. Huseth on May 15, 1932, in the Norwegian language. Interestingly, memorization was easier for him in Norwegian than English.
After graduation from Waldorf Academy, Charles worked for area farmers until drafted into the Army in March of 1942. He was part of Battery “B” 47th Armored Field Artillery Battalion and participated in five battles and campaigns: the Normandy Invasion landing on Utah Beach, Northern France, Rhineland, Battle of the Bulge and Central Europe. Medals received included the Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Star, Bronze Service Arrowhead and the French Jubilee of Liberty Medal presented by the French Consulate on June 6, 1997, 53 years after that historic event. Charles was honorably discharged in Oct. 1945, achieving the rank of corporal.
On Jan. 27, 1946, Charles and Irene Carow, daughter of Frank and Emma Carow, were united in marriage at Zion Lutheran Church, Edgeley, N.D. They made their home on a farm in Mount Valley Township where Charles lived for the next 62 years. To this union three children were born: Steven, Carolynn and Dennis.
In his active farming days, he milked Holstein cows, raised hogs, crops, and served on the Co-op Services Board, as a township trustee and on the Extension Council. He was active in his church, holding offices, serving on boards and attending Lutheran Brotherhood. His greatest source of joy was his faith, his family and the land he loved.
In October 2008, Charles moved to Forest Plaza because of failing health. In June of 2009, he moved to the Good Samaritan Society in Forest City, where he resided until January of 2013.
He is survived by a son, Steven, Joice, Iowa, and his daughter Laurie (Greg) Wendel, Mason City, Iowa, and great-grandchildren Alyssa, Morgan, and Tyler; one daughter, Carolynn (Mike) Korth, Forest City, Iowa, and their children, Kim (Mike) Petersen, Sammamish, Wash., and great-grandchildren Adler, Will and Max, Susan (Dave) Blaha, Clear Lake, Iowa, and great-grandchildren Ben, Josh and Hannah, and Aaron (Shelby) Korth, Reno, Nev., and great-grandchild Addison Lynn; son, Dennis (Cheryl), Andover, Minn., and their sons Eric, St. Francis, Minn., and Craig, Fargo, N.D.
Also surviving are one brother, Robert (Delores) Knudtson; three sisters-in-law: Ruth Knudtson, Cleone Knudtson and Evelyn Knudtson; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Knudt and Clara (Haugen) Knudtson; and stepmother, Mabelle Knudtson; wife, Irene, Aug. 30, 1998; brothers Ernest, James, Melburn and Victor; and two sisters: Florence (John) Albaugh and Edith (Ray) Knutson.
Blessed be his memory.