Germaine 'Gerry' Knudten

GERMAINE ANN "GERRY" KNUDTEN

Cedar Rapids

Germaine Ann "Gerry" Knudten of Rochester, Minn., formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed away Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, at Mayo Clinic. Private interment will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Gerry was born May 8, 1931, in Monona, Iowa, to Werner and Agnes (Moses) Johanningmeier. She graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in Cedar Rapids with the class of 1949. She went on to St. Louis University, where she was a cheerleader and an announcer for the university radio station. She completed her education at the University of Minnesota with a degree in dental hygiene.

Gerry worked at the University of Minnesota Pedodontic and Orthodontic Department Dental School as a student, then as a licensed dental hygienist in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids until 1961. She continued her education at Drake University, State University of Iowa and Coe College, with focus on professional management, insurance, real estate and finance.

She was united in marriage to Dr. Harold "Hal" Olmsted on Dec. 27, 1961, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids. They later divorced. She then married Herbert J. Knudten Sr. on Oct. 16, 1976, at First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. She continued to work and travel with Herb and supported him in his position as vice president director of the Pettibone Corp. and the president of Universal Engineering of Hammermills.

Gerry was passionate about volunteering, lending her time and talents to the Cedar Rapids Art Center, Red Cross, Mercy Hospital Auxiliary and serving as the director of volunteer services at St. Luke's Hospital.

She was also a member of the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra Board, Friends of the Public Library, Cedar Rapids Nature Center Fundraising board and Dance Theatre Association board. She served as past president of the YWCA, St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary board, Cedar Rapids Dental Auxiliary board and University District Dental Auxiliary board.

Gerry enjoyed music, dancing and painting. She loved to read and travel. She also enjoyed playing tennis, golf and was proud to be involved with her husband, Herb, in the Olympic speed skating program. She was a Skate Inc. board member for the development of the local two sheet skating arena built in the Veterans Memorial Sport Complex. Gerry also served as a board member involved in the development of the National Scholastic Speed Skating project for the International Skating Union, a pilot project proposed for Cedar Rapids.

She was preceded in death by her father, Werner, in 1970; mother, Agnes, in 2000; and her husbands, Hal, in 2009, and Herb, in 1995.

Gerry was an only child and did not have children of her own, but she was a mother to many. She is survived by cousins.