Carl Knutsen

Carl Knutsen, 92, of Atlantic, Iowa, died Saturday, April 12, 2025, at the Exira Care Center.

Carl Lee was born on November 23, 1932, in Audubon County, Iowa, the son of Alfred and Edna Christina (Christensen) Knutsen. At a young age he learned the value of hard work and he did whatever was needed to support his family. It started with daily chores and caring for his mother when she became ill and then came the decision to drop out of school to help provide for his siblings along with his uncle, Carl.

On a rainy night in downtown Atlantic, he offered Darlene Pedersen a ride home and after dating for a short time the couple married on November 23, 1952. The couple was blessed with five children and 71 years of marriage, offering the advice of “don’t argue and don’t go to bed mad.”

Camping was by far what they enjoyed the most, it started with taking the kids and then

continued with friends after. They spent most of their time at Cold Springs State Park in Lewis, but also enjoyed the Conklin Fish Farm near Griswold and Lost Island Lake near Emmetsburg. They recalled many fond memories made with each other and fellow campers on the adventures including: the forts made with picnic tables to keep out of the elements, sitting in the steaming hot weather to later discover it was so cool inside the camper that the windows had frosted over, hiding candy bars in their freezer to keep others from eating them, watching mishaps as people pulled in and out of the campground…and much more. They loved the peacefulness and time with family and friends, camping brought.

Carl started out working for various farmers in the area and later worked at Pelgas, Easter’s, Casey’s and at Elk Horn Produce and Chicken Farm, where he was the Barn Manager. He also kept busy with his carpentry business, which included roofing and installing insulation.

He was a craftsman, making anything out of wood you could think of from furniture, such as their entertainment center and lawn decorations which included wagons and baskets. Carl and Darlene tended their vegetable garden together and canned countless amounts of produce from their plentiful harvest. Carl didn’t shy away from doing the baking; his homemade jam and zucchini bread were family favorites. He did anything he could to be resourceful and provide for his family whether it be fishing, raising and processing his own meat or trapping.

Carl was content with a simple life, making the most of what he had, and through the up and down’s in life he maintained his gentle spirit and caring heart; this most recently being show in the care he gave to Darlene so they were able to stay as long as they could in their home.

All his hard work through the years was evident in his strong hands, his firm hand hold being a source of comfort to his family in the final days.

Carl is survived by his children, Kenneth (Patricia) Knutsen, Carol Logue, Brenda (Brad) Herrick, Kevin (Carol Wolff) Knutsen and Jolene (John) Klocek; 13 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Lovie (Roy) Andersen; and many extended family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Edna Christina Knutsen; parents-in-law, Hans and Kirsten Pedersen; wife, Darlene Knutsen; grandson, Ryan Stone; brother, Mads (Vernice) Knutsen; sisters, Mary Ann (Merrill) Petty and Betty (Robert) Esbeck; son-in-law, James Logue; sisters-in-law, Edel (Ilo) Leist and Lydia Pedersen; and brother-in-law, Egon Pedersen.

Visitation with the family present will begin at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 26th at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic followed by a Celebration of Life Memorial service at 2 p.m. Burial will be held in the Atlantic Cemetery.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Carl’s family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.