Art Knutson Obituary

Arthur (“Art”) Kenneth Knutson entered God’s Kingdom and was welcomed through the heavenly gates on July 8, 2025, following a brief illness from a stroke. According to his wishes, he was able to be in his own home when he passed, lovingly surrounded by his family.

He was born on July 22, 1929, during the Great Depression on a farm near Hardy, Iowa, where he also attended grade school. In 1948 at age 18, Art answered the call of duty and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He spent much of his four-year service stationed in the sweltering heat of the Philippine Islands.

Upon returning to Iowa, Art married Karen V. Fiala on November 30, 1952, at Moorland Congregational Church. This was a union that would span an extraordinary 72 years, a milestone that only one-tenth of one percent of all married couples attain.

Art’s life was deeply rooted in the land. At age 11, he left home to live with his grandmother and then with a neighboring farmer. He was a hard worker even at such a young age, performing such jobs as shocking oats in the heat of the summer for area farmers. He worked at the Fort Dodge Creamery both before and after his service in the Army. Later Art began farming, first by Fort Dodge and then by Knierim and Callender. In 1968, he bought a farm near Macksburg, Iowa. Here he grew crops and raised cattle. At age 93, he still had a herd of 150 cattle and would hand carry 65 five-gallon pails of feed to them each morning and night. About eight tons of feed per week by himself! He never retired from farming. This spring, along with his son Kelly, he was still out in his fields on his tractor helping to plant the crops. He was well known at most of the local sale barns for many years. Just recently, he stated that he had the “best family” and he had had a good life.

Art is survived by his wife, Karen; his children, Kerry (Rick) Loving of Carlisle, Kristi (Mike) Schirm of East Peru, Kelly (Louise) Knutson of Truro, and Karolyn (Ed) Jepson of Knoxville, Tennessee; his sister, Luella Jensen of Fort Dodge; seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and one great great-grandchild, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Kay; his parents, Osmund and Sevina Knutson of Fort Dodge; his parents-in-law, Lee and Olive Fiala of Callender; two sisters, and three brothers.

The family extends special heartfelt thanks to niece, Kimberly Moss for her hospice support. May memories of Art bring comfort to those who knew him.

A visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Sunday, July 13, 2025, at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Winterset Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, July 14, at the funeral home, with a military graveside service to follow at 2:00p.m., at the Elkhorn Cemetery, Moorland. 

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for a future designation.