Larry Del Knudsen

Larry D. Knudsen of Gardner passed away on April 15, 2020 at the age of 75. Larry was born on October 5, 1944 to Ruth Earlene Drake & William Arthur Knudsen in Kansas City, Missouri. He grew up in the Shawnee area with a younger brother, Ronald William Knudsen, and graduated from Shawnee Mission North in 1962. He worked for General Motors, and the railroad, but his career was in heating & cooling at A.B. May. He worked there for 43 years until he retired in 2011.

Larry, or Grandpa to those not lucky enough to call him Dad, was a quiet man with a huge heart. It only took a quick conversation with him to know how important his family & friends were to him, not because of what he said about them, but because of the pictures he carried in his shirt pocket to proudly show to anyone willing to look & listen. He loved his family dearly and would do just about anything for them from farm work to baby-sitting; he gladly wore all “hats,” except for diaper changer. He had to draw the line somewhere. Dad was his happiest when he was hunting or fishing and surrounded by those he loved. Those trips were so special to him. He treasured the memories they made together, and the friendships he built over the years.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, William & Ruth Knudsen, his brother Ronald Knudsen, his great-nephew Tyler Knudsen, his former wives, Janelle Knudsen, and Bonnie Alden Knudsen.

He is survived by his children, LaRonda (Rocky) Stephenson of Pomona, KS, Larry (Debbie) Knudsen of Wellsville, KS, Leah (Kevin) Williams of Kansas City, KS, Pam (Kendall) Umholtz of De Soto, KS, Don (Marta) Patten of California; 13 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren.

There will be a memorial service announced at a later date. Donations can be made towards a memorial bench and picnic table that will be placed at Roaring River State park in Larry’s honor. For more information email: [email protected]