SFC James M. Knudsen, Sr., 79, entered into rest on Saturday, January 30, 2016.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, February 5, 2016 at Hillcrest Memorial Park Mausoleum.
James was born in Yankton, South Dakota, on June 17, 1936 to Irving M. Knudsen and Edna (Christensen) Knudsen. In his teen years his family moved to California, where he worked as an apprentice carpenter. In September 1954, he joined the United States Army. The majority of his military and civil service career was spent in the Signal Corp. From June 1955 to July 1958 he was stationed in Mannheim, Germany where he met his wife Hilde, of 59 years. He returned stateside to Seattle, Washington where his daughters, Nancy (Knudsen) Sheahan, and Patricia (Knudsen) Grulke, were born. In 1961, he was stationed to serve 3 years in Pirmasens, Germany, where his son, James M. Knudsen, Jr. was born. In 1964, James returned stateside to serve 7 months in Frederick, Maryland. In September 1964, he received orders to serve in Saigon, Vietnam. After 1 year, he returned stateside to Winters, California. In 1966, he was once again called to serve his country in Bien Hoa, Vietnam. In 1967, he returned stateside to Ft. Gordon, Georgia. In 1970, he was called to serve in Berlin, Germany for 2 months during the Berlin crisis. After this brief stay he was transferred to Pirmasens, Germany until January 1971, when he received his third request to serve in Long Binh, Vietnam. After 1 year, he returned stateside to finish out his 20 year military career at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. After retirement from the US Army, James continued to serve the country he loved with an additional 35 years civil service at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. James earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal-Vietnam, Five good conduct medals, the Vietnam Campaign medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with 6 Bronze Stars, the Army Occupation Medal – Germany, 6 overseas bars, the Army Commendation Medal, the Bronze Star – Meritorius Unit Commendation and numerous other awards.
James was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Hilde (Wittemann) Knudsen, his daughters Nancy (Knudsen) Sheahan (John), and Patricia (Knudsen) Grulke (Paul), and his son James M. Knudsen, Jr. His grandchildren Courtney Diane Sheahan Cowart (Wheeler), Joseph Raymond Sheahan, Michael Paul Grulke (Melissa Chambers Grulke), Heather Lynne Grulke and Kyle Jacob Knudsen, and his informally adopted daughter, Joette Shaw, grandchildren, Damian and Athena (Tina) Hylton, and great granddaughter Makenna Hylton. He was preceded in death by his parents, Irving and Edna Knudsen, his brothers, Roger Knudsen, Dennis Knudsen, and Kenneth Knudsen.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517
Topeka, Kansas 66675, or The Gary Sinise Foundation P.O. Box 50008 Studio City, CA 91614.
Honorary Pall-Bearers: James M. Knudsen, Jr., Joseph Raymond Sheahan, Michael Paul Grulke, Kyle Jacob Knudsen, John J. Sheahan III, R. Wheeler Cowart, Paul Grulke, and Damian Hylton.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, February 4, 2016 from 6:00PM until 8:00PM at the funeral home.