Knudtson, Kathy

Kathy Knudtson, 80, passed away Friday, Dec. 17, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center. Funeral Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22, at First Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Craig Brown. Burial will be at a later date at Roland Cemetery, Roland, Iowa. Arrangements by Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion.

Kathleen was born to Clarence and Ione (Sill) Thompson on a farm near Hopkinton (Buck Creek), Iowa, on Feb. 1, 1930. She attended Buck Creek Consolidated School for 10 years, graduating from Manchester High School in 1947. She earned her B.A. from UNI (formerly Iowa State Teachers College) in 1951, and her M.S. from Iowa State University in 1972. She married Paul Knudtson on June 2, 1951, at Buck Creek Methodist Church and they enjoyed 58 years of marriage until Paul's death in June 2009. Early in their marriage Paul was serving in the U.S. Air Force in San Antonio, Texas, at which time she joined him and taught at Trinity University. Following his service, they returned to Iowa to teach at Westside, Van Horne, and eventually at Westmar College in Le Mars, where they spent 18 years. In 1975, they moved to Cedar Rapids, where she joined faculties at Roosevelt, Kennedy and Metro High School. While at Metro, she was named Iowa Alternative School Educator of the Year.

Kathy was active in TTT, Linn County Family and Consumer Science, First Lutheran Church, volunteered at Mercy Medical Center and was a member of Kappa Omicron Nu. She was an avid Hawkeye fan and enjoyed watching sports of all types and closely following the careers of athletes whom she respected. She loved her family and friends dearly and particularly enjoyed music, sewing, entertaining and playing bridge. Her grandsons affectionately knew her as “Hahee.” Following retirement, Paul and Kathy wintered in Florida, San Antonio, Texas, and Casa Grande, Ariz.

Survivors include a daughter, Kari (Steve) Jones of Chatham, Ill.; a son, Jeffery (Mary) of Oconomowoc, Wis.; four grandsons, Benjamin and Jon Knudtson, Connor and Tyler Jones; a sister, Gail (Jim) Johnston of Cedar Rapids; a brother, Robert (Lois) Thompson of The Villages, Fla.; a sister-in-law, Anne Thompson of Fort Collins, Colo.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul; brother, Ralph Thompson; and her parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First Lutheran Church, 1000 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 or Mercy Medical Center, c/o Mercy Auxiliary, 701 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.

Please sign the online guest book for Kathy at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.