John Otzen Knudsen

John Otzen Knudsen, the son of Andrew and Rosie (Otzen) Knudsen, was born October 18, 1925, on his parents’ farm south of Coon Rapids in Guthrie County, Iowa and died December 16, 2021, at Sunnybrook of Carroll Assisted Living in Carroll, Iowa at the age of 96 years, 1 month, and 28 days.

John was baptized and confirmed at Ascension Lutheran Church south of Coon Rapids. He attended rural school in Orange Township through the eighth grade then helped operate the family farm. In November of 1942, John moved with the family to Audubon, Iowa where John was employed at the Audubon Creamery pasteurizing and bottling milk. On March 17, 1944 he was inducted into the United States Navy. During his tour of duty he served as a motor machinist’s mate and was stationed on a ship off the coast of Japan. On May 27, 1946, he was honorably discharged and returned home to Audubon and worked road construction for a few years.

On October 23, 1948, he was united in marriage to Irene Mutschall, the daughter of Earnest and Caroline (Miller) Mutschall, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Des Moines, Iowa. They were blessed with two sons Roger and Rex. John worked road construction until 1951 when he started farming. He grew row crops and raised livestock until he retired from farming and moved into Audubon in 1976. John then was employed as a salesman by John Deere in Audubon, Coon Rapids, and Manning, Iowa selling farm machinery until he retired. During retirement his main hobby was fishing both locally and many trips to Minnesota.

John was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. He was a charter and life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4119 in Audubon.

Preceding him in death was his daughter-in-law Sandy Knudsen; his parents Andrew and Rosie Knudsen and his mother-in-law and father-in-law Earnest and Caroline Mutschall; his brothers and sisters Nels and wife Ila Knudsen, Lester and wife Katie Knudsen, Leonard and wife Beatrice Knudsen, Gladys and husband Charles Miller, Warren and wife Betty Knudsen, and Alma and husband Thearl Mesecher.

Survivors include his wife of 73 years Irene Knudsen of Carroll, Iowa; his sons Roger and wife Jane Knudsen of Williamsburg, Iowa and Rex Knudsen of Carroll, Iowa; his four granddaughters : Julie Kennebeck and special friend Brad Schafbuch of Victor, Iowa and Jodie and husband Chad Driscoll of Williamsburg, Iowa, Allissa and husband Evan Aldinger of San Antonio, Texas, and Katie Knudsen and her fiancé Kirby Gunnersen both of Bondurant, Iowa; his 6 great grandchildren Jayden and Camden Kennebeck of Victor, Iowa and Peyton, Kenzi, and Mylee Driscoll all of Williamsburg, Iowa, and Lincoln Aldinger of San Antonio, Texas.

Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Dan Beattie and Pastor Cindy Johnson on Wednesday December 22, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. The family will meet with friends Wednesday morning from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The honorary casket bearers will be Tom and Joan Nielsen and Leroy and Sharlene Albertsen. The casket bearers will be Jerry Yager, Mark Sornson, Jeff Nielsen, Jeff DeBower, Terry Thygesen, and Steve Mathisen.

The funeral service will be livestreamed on KESSLER FUNERAL HOMES INC. Facebook page. To get there, log into your Facebook account (you will need one to view the service), search for and navigate to the KESSLER FUNERAL HOMES INC. Facebook page, and at the time the service goes live, it will populate in the timeline. You may also scroll to the bottom of our homepage at www.kesslerfuneralhomes.com page and click the Facebook logo to be taken directly to our page. If you experience difficulties viewing the broadcast at the time of the service, the recording will remain on our Facebook page for additional viewing opportunities.