Eugene P. Knutson
Nov. 10, 1932 - Feb. 9, 2008
CASSOPOLIS - Eugene P. Knutson, 75, of Cassopolis, Michigan, died at home Saturday evening with family members at his side. His death followed a six-month battle with cancer. Gene was born November 10, 1932, in Beloit, Wisconsin, to the late Florence and Peter Knutson. He married the former Carol Buschbaum of South Bend in 1953. She died in 1982. In 1995 he married Vicki Futterknecht of Cassopolis, who survives. Also surviving are three children, Sherry (Kirby) Sprouls, Bruce (Barbara) Knutson and Janie (Tim) Taylor, all of South Bend; and eight grandchildren, Tim, Will, Daniel, Brandon, Kyle, Karolyn, Kaylie and Britt. Also preceding in death was a brother, Erling. Gene was a four-sport standout at Beloit High School, earning a football scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he lettered three years, won the Meyer Morton Award and was selected to the college all-star Hula Bowl as a senior. He graduated in 1954 and was drafted by Green Bay Packers, for whom he played defensive end from 1954-1956. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, then taught and coached at St. Joseph's High School in South Bend before going into private business. He was employed at Laven Insurance Agency and later became an executive vice president for Ara Parseghian Enterprises. He formerly served as a deacon at Ridgedale Presbyterian Church. Gene established an NFL Alumni Club chapter in South Bend and for 14 years organized a celebrity golf tournament that benefited CANCO Child Development Center and the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation and its fight against Niemann-Pick Type C disease. A big man physically with a sense of humor to match, Gene loved to tease and derived great satisfaction from a successful practical joke, but nothing exceeded his affection for his family. He particularly enjoyed visiting with his eight grandchildren and attending their activities. Over the years he maintained a deep interest in athletics, especially his beloved Wolverines and Packers. He never tired of reliving a Green Bay victory over the Chicago Bears. In 1990 he was inducted into the Beloit Historical Society's Athletic Hall of Fame. Following retirement in 1994 he volunteered with the Council on Aging and relished his time with Vicki and their dog, Gerda. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, February 14, at First Presbyterian Church, 333 W. Colfax, South Bend. Rev. Don Neely will officiate. Burial will follow at Saint Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, IN. The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. today in the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan Street, South Bend. Contributions in memory of Gene Knutson may be made to the Barbie B. Foundation, 1411 Olivia Circle, Suite 202, South Bend, IN 46614.
Published in the South Bend Tribune on 2/13/2008.
Nov. 10, 1932 - Feb. 9, 2008
CASSOPOLIS - Eugene P. Knutson, 75, of Cassopolis, Michigan, died at home Saturday evening with family members at his side. His death followed a six-month battle with cancer. Gene was born November 10, 1932, in Beloit, Wisconsin, to the late Florence and Peter Knutson. He married the former Carol Buschbaum of South Bend in 1953. She died in 1982. In 1995 he married Vicki Futterknecht of Cassopolis, who survives. Also surviving are three children, Sherry (Kirby) Sprouls, Bruce (Barbara) Knutson and Janie (Tim) Taylor, all of South Bend; and eight grandchildren, Tim, Will, Daniel, Brandon, Kyle, Karolyn, Kaylie and Britt. Also preceding in death was a brother, Erling. Gene was a four-sport standout at Beloit High School, earning a football scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he lettered three years, won the Meyer Morton Award and was selected to the college all-star Hula Bowl as a senior. He graduated in 1954 and was drafted by Green Bay Packers, for whom he played defensive end from 1954-1956. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, then taught and coached at St. Joseph's High School in South Bend before going into private business. He was employed at Laven Insurance Agency and later became an executive vice president for Ara Parseghian Enterprises. He formerly served as a deacon at Ridgedale Presbyterian Church. Gene established an NFL Alumni Club chapter in South Bend and for 14 years organized a celebrity golf tournament that benefited CANCO Child Development Center and the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation and its fight against Niemann-Pick Type C disease. A big man physically with a sense of humor to match, Gene loved to tease and derived great satisfaction from a successful practical joke, but nothing exceeded his affection for his family. He particularly enjoyed visiting with his eight grandchildren and attending their activities. Over the years he maintained a deep interest in athletics, especially his beloved Wolverines and Packers. He never tired of reliving a Green Bay victory over the Chicago Bears. In 1990 he was inducted into the Beloit Historical Society's Athletic Hall of Fame. Following retirement in 1994 he volunteered with the Council on Aging and relished his time with Vicki and their dog, Gerda. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, February 14, at First Presbyterian Church, 333 W. Colfax, South Bend. Rev. Don Neely will officiate. Burial will follow at Saint Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, IN. The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. today in the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan Street, South Bend. Contributions in memory of Gene Knutson may be made to the Barbie B. Foundation, 1411 Olivia Circle, Suite 202, South Bend, IN 46614.
Published in the South Bend Tribune on 2/13/2008.
Eugene P. Knutson
Nov. 10, 1932 - Feb. 9, 2008
CASSOPOLIS - Eugene P. Knutson, 75, of Cassopolis, Michigan, died at home Saturday evening with family members at his side. His death followed a six-month battle with cancer. Gene was born November 10, 1932, in Beloit, Wisconsin, to the late Florence and Peter Knutson. He married the former Carol Buschbaum of South Bend in 1953. She died in 1982. In 1995 he married Vicki Futterknecht of Cassopolis, who survives. Also surviving are three children, Sherry (Kirby) Sprouls, Bruce (Barbara) Knutson and Janie (Tim) Taylor, all of South Bend; and eight grandchildren, Tim, Will, Daniel, Brandon, Kyle, Karolyn, Kaylie and Britt. Also preceding in death was a brother, Erling. Gene was a four-sport standout at Beloit High School, earning a football scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he lettered three years, won the Meyer Morton Award and was selected to the college all-star Hula Bowl as a senior. He graduated in 1954 and was drafted by Green Bay Packers, for whom he played defensive end from 1954-1956. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, then taught and coached at St. Joseph's High School in South Bend before going into private business. He was employed at Laven Insurance Agency and later became an executive vice president for Ara Parseghian Enterprises. He formerly served as a deacon at Ridgedale Presbyterian Church. Gene established an NFL Alumni Club chapter in South Bend and for 14 years organized a celebrity golf tournament that benefited CANCO Child Development Center and the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation and its fight against Niemann-Pick Type C disease. A big man physically with a sense of humor to match, Gene loved to tease and derived great satisfaction from a successful practical joke, but nothing exceeded his affection for his family. He particularly enjoyed visiting with his eight grandchildren and attending their activities. Over the years he maintained a deep interest in athletics, especially his beloved Wolverines and Packers. He never tired of reliving a Green Bay victory over the Chicago Bears. In 1990 he was inducted into the Beloit Historical Society's Athletic Hall of Fame. Following retirement in 1994 he volunteered with the Council on Aging and relished his time with Vicki and their dog, Gerda. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, February 14, at First Presbyterian Church, 333 W. Colfax, South Bend. Rev. Don Neely will officiate. Burial will follow at Saint Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, IN. The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. today in the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan Street, South Bend. Contributions in memory of Gene Knutson may be made to the Barbie B. Foundation, 1411 Olivia Circle, Suite 202, South Bend, IN 46614.
Published in the South Bend Tribune on 2/13/2008.
Nov. 10, 1932 - Feb. 9, 2008
CASSOPOLIS - Eugene P. Knutson, 75, of Cassopolis, Michigan, died at home Saturday evening with family members at his side. His death followed a six-month battle with cancer. Gene was born November 10, 1932, in Beloit, Wisconsin, to the late Florence and Peter Knutson. He married the former Carol Buschbaum of South Bend in 1953. She died in 1982. In 1995 he married Vicki Futterknecht of Cassopolis, who survives. Also surviving are three children, Sherry (Kirby) Sprouls, Bruce (Barbara) Knutson and Janie (Tim) Taylor, all of South Bend; and eight grandchildren, Tim, Will, Daniel, Brandon, Kyle, Karolyn, Kaylie and Britt. Also preceding in death was a brother, Erling. Gene was a four-sport standout at Beloit High School, earning a football scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he lettered three years, won the Meyer Morton Award and was selected to the college all-star Hula Bowl as a senior. He graduated in 1954 and was drafted by Green Bay Packers, for whom he played defensive end from 1954-1956. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, then taught and coached at St. Joseph's High School in South Bend before going into private business. He was employed at Laven Insurance Agency and later became an executive vice president for Ara Parseghian Enterprises. He formerly served as a deacon at Ridgedale Presbyterian Church. Gene established an NFL Alumni Club chapter in South Bend and for 14 years organized a celebrity golf tournament that benefited CANCO Child Development Center and the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation and its fight against Niemann-Pick Type C disease. A big man physically with a sense of humor to match, Gene loved to tease and derived great satisfaction from a successful practical joke, but nothing exceeded his affection for his family. He particularly enjoyed visiting with his eight grandchildren and attending their activities. Over the years he maintained a deep interest in athletics, especially his beloved Wolverines and Packers. He never tired of reliving a Green Bay victory over the Chicago Bears. In 1990 he was inducted into the Beloit Historical Society's Athletic Hall of Fame. Following retirement in 1994 he volunteered with the Council on Aging and relished his time with Vicki and their dog, Gerda. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, February 14, at First Presbyterian Church, 333 W. Colfax, South Bend. Rev. Don Neely will officiate. Burial will follow at Saint Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, IN. The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. today in the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan Street, South Bend. Contributions in memory of Gene Knutson may be made to the Barbie B. Foundation, 1411 Olivia Circle, Suite 202, South Bend, IN 46614.
Published in the South Bend Tribune on 2/13/2008.
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