Paul Dennis Knudsen

Paul Dennis Knudsen, the son of Charles Christen and Virginia Marie (Swank) Knudsen, was born May 24, 1951, at St. Anthony’s Regional Hospital in Carroll, Iowa, and died November 5, 2017, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 66 years, 5 months, and 12 days.

Paul was baptized and confirmed at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. He attended Exira Community Schools graduating with the Class of 1970. On August 13, 1970, he enlisted in the United States Army until his honorable discharge on September19, 1970. Paul then moved to Texas and was employed as a ranch hand for a short time before moving back to Iowa. He was then employed with Thermogas in Audubon, Iowa, where he was a custom applicator and also sold and delivered propane for several years until they closed. Paul then worked for Cropmate in Brayton, Iowa, until 2004. On August 9, 2005, he was united in marriage to Cristie Knudsen at their home in Exira. He worked various jobs in the area until becoming employed with Farner-Bocken in Carroll, Iowa, where he worked until his retirement in 2015.

Paul was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira. He loved to go hunting and fishing, and really enjoyed driving his black Duramax Diesel. Paul was an extremely generous man, but he was also very stubborn and chose to live life his own way. His personal philosophy was that you could never have too many boots, coats, or hats. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family and friends.

Preceding him in death were his son Nathan and wife Lindsay Knudsen, his parents, his brother Steve Knudsen, and his father-in-law Derward Hansen.

Survivors include his wife Cristie Knudsen of Exira, Iowa; his children: Eric and wife Tiffany Knudsen of Murrieta, California; Charles A. and wife Selene Knudsen of Des Moines, Iowa; April and husband Ryan Schrage of Parkersburg, Iowa; Jessie and husband Jeremy Zaruba of Grimes, Iowa; Lindie and husband Kyle Olson of Oskaloosa, Iowa; his grandchildren: Marshal Knudsen, Cash Knudsen, and Claire Knudsen of Murrieta, Charles P. Knudsen of Des Moines, Rylie and Reygan Schrage of Parkersburg, Lydia and Julia Zaruba of Grimes, and Emma Olson of Oskaloosa; his mother-in-law: Darlene Hansen of Exira, Iowa; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Jolene and husband Clay Andresen of Exira, Iowa; Wayne and wife Tam Hansen of Cumming, Iowa; Craig and wife Tracey Hansen of Wilton, Iowa; Becky and husband Mark Rold of Elk Horn, Iowa; Janelle and husband Ken Hunnicutt of Giltner, Nebraska; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.