Obituary

John Knutson Sr., obituary

Tue, 08/30/2016 - 11:15am

THOMASTON - John A. Knutson Sr., 90, died peacefully on Aug. 29, 2016, surrounded by his loving family, at his home.

Born Sept. 17, 1925, in Bronx, N.Y., he was the son of Thomas and Kirsten Helland Knutson. Educated in New York, John was a hard worker his entire life. He entered the Navy shortly after turning 18 in 1943, beginning what would turn out to be a long career in the shipbuilding industry. After completing his service in the Navy, John returned home to New York, where he joined his father and brother in the family owned Thomas Knutson Shipbuilding Corporation. The shipyard did a lot of work for the U.S. Government during World War II and the Korean conflict, and at one time had more than 500 employees at the yard.

On July 23, 1950, John married the love of his life, Muriel Magnusen at Central Presbyterian Church in Huntington, N.Y. John and Muriel were soul-mates and were blessed with 66 years of marriage. Together they started their family and continued to be active members of Central Presbyterian Church.

For many years, John and Muriel summered with their ever growing family in Maine at a farm in Cushing. After his retirement from the shipyard in 1972, the family moved to Cushing permanently. During his retirement, John loved to spend time with his wife in their antique business they started together. Together they traveled extensively, exhibiting in antique shows in Maryland, Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Massachusetts, among others.

John had a special passion and love of animals, especially pigeons. While living in New York, he built a special loft above his garage where he raised, trained and raced them. These same pigeons were brought with him to Maine. This love of pigeons afforded John and Muriel the opportunity to continue to see the world, traveling to Pigeon Olympiads in England, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Spain, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungry and Poland.

John's number one priority was his family. He loved nothing more than spending time with them, and took great pride in the accomplishments all of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Predeceased by two brothers, Thomas A. Knutson and Gordon Knutson; John is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Muriel Knutson of Thomaston; his children and their spouses, Barbara Hart of Rockport, Christine Knutson-Ward and Wayne Ward of Warren, John Jr. and Katherine Knutson of Rockport, George and Deborah Knutson of Warren, Virginia Knutson of Brentwood, N.H., Paul Knutson of Cushing, Edward and Christine Knutson of Scarborough, Muriel and Robert Bracken of Warwick, R.I., Melissa and Lewis Sukeforth of Searsmont, and Matthew and Liane Knutson of Warren; 26 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; as well as three sisters, Lillian A. Tillotson of Halesite, N.Y., Doris Hickerson of Greenlawn, N.Y., and Irene Hollweg and her husband, Robert, of Huntington, N.Y.

Family and friends are invited to visit on Friday, Sept. 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St. in Rockland. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, Sept. 3, at 11 a.m. at Thomaston Baptist Church, 212 Main St. in Thomaston. The Rev. Andrew Stinson and brother-in-law Robert Hollweg will officiate. Interment will follow at Village Cemetery in Thomaston.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105.