Eugene H. Knutson passed away on Saturday (Jan. 15, 2011) in Broomfield, Colo., at the age of 93.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Mamie J. Knutson, who died on Sept. 21, 2010.
He was born on Dec. 22, 1917, the only child of Isaac and Jennie Knutson of Eagle Grove, Wright County, Iowa. He spent his childhood and adolescence helping his parents with the family farm working the fields behind draft horses.
Eugene graduated from Eagle Grove High School in 1935 where he was a National Academic Honor Society member and was selected by the Des Moines Register to the Iowa All-State football team. He later played football for the University of Iowa, where he was a teammate of Nile Kinnick Jr. He received his degree of bachelor of science in commerce (business economics) from the University of Iowa in 1940.
On March 9, 1941, Eugene married Mamie Louise Johnson at Elm Lutheran Church in Randall, Iowa. They lived and worked in Iowa and California prior to the outbreak of World War II.
After Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, Eugene enlisted in the Army and subsequently became an officer in the Army Corps of Engineers, serving with distinction until mid-1946. While serving in the Army, he obtained a bachelor of science degree in engineering from the University of Santa Clara in Santa Clara, Calif.
Following World War II, Eugene joined Cargill Inc. of Minneapolis, Minn., as a salesman for the seed division. Eugene and Mamie lived in several towns in Iowa as Eugene advanced with the company. His last assignment with Cargill was managing two divisions (Cargo Carriers Inc. and new products division) at company headquarters in Wayzata, Minn.
Eugene and Mamie moved to Newton in 1964 when Eugene joined Hesston Corp. From 1974 until 1977, Eugene and Mamie lived in Brussels, Belgium, where Eugene was Hesston's managing director for the European, Mideast and African operations. During this time, Eugene and Mamie traveled extensively in Central and Western Europe, Africa, Russia (USSR) and various Communist block countries.
In 1980, Eugene retired from Hesston Corp. At this time, Eugene organized the Harrold Company, an exporting and international consulting company, with offices in Kansas and Australia. Eugene became CEO, president, and chairman of the board of the Harrold Companies headquartered in Manhattan. Concurrently, Eugene and a former colleague organized a distribution company, Ag Accessories Pty, Ltd of Trafalgar, Victoria, Australia, where he was vice chairman. Eugene was a board member of the Mid-American Trade Council, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the World Trade Council and the First Presbyterian Church of Newton.
Eugene was an avid golfer and with his wife, Mamie, played golf courses throughout the world including South Africa, Australia, Central Europe, England and Scotland.
In addition to golf, Eugene loved to tend his vegetable garden, loved to fish, was an infamous arsonist during pasture burning season and spent much time either on horseback or a John Deere tractor assisting his son, Colt, in the operation of Mud Creek Ranch of Flush.
In May 2009, Eugene and Mamie moved to Broomfield, Colo., to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
Eugene is survived by son, Jay and wife, Suzy Knutson of Boulder, Colo.; son, Colt Knutson and fiancé, Linda Keller, both of Manhattan; daughter, Anne and husband, Dick Kelley of Superior, Colo.; and four grandchildren, Geoffrey Knutson and Courtney Kelley of Boulder, Colo., Dr. Jennifer Knutson of Seattle, and Brittany Kelley of Newport Beach, Calif.
Visitation with family and friends will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Petersen Funeral Home, 215 Main St. in Newton.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, 900 Columbus Avenue in Newton.
Eugene requested cremation and will be buried next to his wife, Mamie, in Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Permanent Endowment Fund at First Presbyterian Church, 900 Columbus Ave., Newton, KS 67114.
