Clarence Donald Knutsen

Born in St Louis, Missouri on 16 January, 1929, to Klarence Thoralf Knutsen and Anna née Westerman, Clarence was the eldest of two boys. After elementary school, he attended St Joseph’s Preparatory in Kirkwood, Missouri, a secondary boarding school for teenaged boys expressing an interest in the priesthood. He graduated in ‘49, then served as 2nd Lieutenant in the Signal Corps during the Korean War. While in Tokyo he applied and was accepted to the University of San Francisco, from which he earned BA and JD degrees. While a law student at USF, he met Judy née Spread at a “mixer” at Dominican College in San Rafael, where she was a student. They married in June 1956. After graduating USF in ‘57, he relocated with Judy and their first born to Stockton to accept his first professional position as a trial lawyer with Honey, Mayall & Hurley, a firm he would help shepherd through 38 years of growth, becoming Partner as Mayall, Hurley, Knutsen, Smith & Green. As an attorney, he was known for exquisite integrity and a disarmingly persuasive way with a jury. Picturing Clarence going at it in debate with God, one who knows our force field of a Viking well said, “This is one argument God won’t win.”

A man of deepest faith as a Roman Catholic, Clarence was one of a kind. Intellectually curious, private, stoic, opinionated, gallant, kind, and spectacularly generous. A voracious reader, he took great delight in literature, with Dostoevsky, Shakespeare, Tolkien, and Chesterton among his many favorites. He relished classical music and spent happy hours in the kitchen experimenting with recipes or researching his ancestry through exhaustive genealogical investigation. He loved Nat King Cole, spicy food, bourbon, clean cotton handkerchiefs, and ice cream. Ever elegant, every doctor commented on his distinguished appearance in a pressed and long-sleeved button-down shirt, Khakis, belt, and pocket handkerchief. They don’t make ‘em like him any more, and more’s the shame in it. We feel his absence keenly.

Indelible to our memories, Clarence is survived by Judy Knutsen, his dearly loved wife of 69 years, plus their five children: Beth Main (Donald), Jean Aguilar, Erik-RIP, Paul (Lori née Newlon), and John (Colleen née Kenny). Clarence embraced five granddaughters: Mia Martin-Aguilar (Jeremy), Arrionne Aguilar Taitague, Camille Pennington (Brett), Eden Sanford (James), and Gemma Knutsen, plus five great grandchildren dear to his heart.

All welcome to attend the Funeral Mass on Wednesday, 22 October, 11AM, at St Michael Catholic Church in Morada (Stockton), California: 5882 N Ashley Lane, Stockton, CA 95215. The family will hold a private committal service.

In lieu of flowers or contributions, please consider a note of condolence to Judy Knutsen c/o St Michael Church at address above.