Gerald Eugene Knudson

Jerry is survived by his sweetheart, Patricia Wells; his children, Gerald, Martha (Tyler Dickman), Joseph (Natalie), and Michael (Cyndie); his grandchildren, Nathan, Thomas, Culver, Camden, and Ruby; and his siblings, Dallas (Renie), Dorothy Chiodo, Glen, and his golden retriever, Bogey. He was preceded in death by his wife, Vicki Andersen Knudson; his parents, Mary Anderson Knudson and Leland Lewis Knudson, and his brother, Ronald Lewis Knudson.

Jerry was born in 1941 in Ogden, Utah, the third of five siblings. From an early age, he was blessed with intelligence, integrity, loyalty, athleticism, humor, tenacity, and a fierce love of games and competition. He excelled at them all. Jerry graduated from Highland High School in its first graduating class in 1959, where he played baseball and football. He went on to attend the University of Utah, graduating in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. While there, he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and joined the United States Air Force Reserve.

Jerry and Vicki married in 1965, made their home in Salt Lake City, and welcomed four children into their family. Jerry was steadfastly supportive of and proud of his children throughout his life. They remember him teaching them the importance of honesty, sportsmanship, hard work, and the enduring value of friendship.

Jerry’s professional life included construction industry sales, work as a stockbroker, entrepreneurship, and decades as co-manager of a family investment company alongside his brother Glen. He also held a real estate license and approached his work with the same discipline and integrity that defined his life.

His personal interests were as varied as his professional pursuits. Jerry excelled at golf, winning five Salt Lake Country Club championships across three decades. He was proud of his game and spent countless hours refining it. For Jerry, golf was a metaphor for life, and he believed that the way a person keeps score says a great deal about their character. He was also an accomplished bridge player with master points and loved playing both golf and bridge with his close friends. In addition, Jerry was a talented softball player, a dedicated karate student, and a skilled leather wallet maker. To receive one of Jerry’s custom-made wallets was to know you were someone special.

Jerry will be remembered as an honest, loyal, caring, and at times stubborn father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He lived his life guided by principle and integrity. We love you, Dad, and will miss you every single day.

Family and friends are invited to visit with the family at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park and Mortuary between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. on Friday, February 27, 2026. A graveside service will follow at 12:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to a charity meaningful to you, in honor of Jerry’s life and example.