Pastor Jacob "Jack" Knutson
Pastor Jacob "Jack" Knutson, age 76, of Mission Hill, SD, died Monday, February 9, 2009, at his residence.
Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Friday, February 13, 2009, at Vangen Lutheran Church in Mission Hill, SD with Reverend Lance Lindgren officiating. Burial will be in Vangen Cemetery in Mission Hill. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, Thursday at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton, SD with a prayer service and video tribute at 7:00 PM.
Pallbearers are Nathaniel Knutson, Jacob Knutson, Nigel Knutson, Robert Knutson, Ronald Knutson, Kyle Knutson, and Daniel Bamsey. Honorary pallbearers will be ELCA clergy members.
Jacob Knutson was born March 22, 1932 in Turner County, rural Centerville, South Dakota, to Arthur and Sena (Jensen) Knutson. He grew up and attended elementary school (District 53) in rural Centerville. Jacob graduated from Centerville High School in 1950. During high school, he was active in Boy's Glee Club and Mixed Chorus. He received three medals for taking first place in vocal solos. He was also awarded all-conference football guard. In 1953, Jacob was drafted into the Army where he was trained as a medic. He also served as a chaplain's assistant. Much of his time was spent at Port Orchard, Washington, as an anti-aircraft radar operator. He was honorably discharged as a corporal in 1955. Jacob was a graduate of Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. During college, he was a member of the Acapella Choir and belonged to the Neuronian Fraternity.
On April 12, 1959, he married Jean Monk at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. In June of 1960, Cathy, their daughter, was born, and Jacob enrolled in Luther Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in St. Paul, Minnesota. He served his internship in Owatonna, Minnesota in 1963. While serving in Owatonna, his son, David, was born. Jacob graduated from Luther Seminary in 1964. After graduation, Jacob accepted a call as Lutheran pastor in Kloten, North Dakota. This parish consisted of Valley Grove, Norway, and West Prairie Lutheran Churches. He served there for three years. In 1968, he received a call to serve St. John's Lutheran Church in Loogootee, Indiana. He served there for seven years and helped to design and plan an educational unit, which was built in 1970. In 1974, Jacob received a call from Vangen Lutheran Church in Mission Hill, South Dakota. He served there for twelve years. In 1986, he received a call from the Sinai-Lake Campbell Lutheran Parish in Sinai, South Dakota. Due to declining health, he resigned in 1990 and accepted a part-time call to Hope and Unity Lutheran Churches in Freeman, South Dakota. While serving the Freeman Parish, he and his wife, Jean, moved into their home in the Jim River Hideaway, rural Mission Hill. He served the Freeman Parish for seven years and retired in 1997. He was a member of Vangen Lutheran Church, Mission Hill, following his retirement. He participated in the choir, Senior Citizen's Organization, and was also a sponsor for a Habitat for Humanity family in Yankton, South Dakota.
He enjoyed serving as pastor, traveling, woodcarving, fishing, boating, and watching the Minnesota Twins play baseball. He especially looked forward to visits from family and friends.
Jacob is survived by his wife, Jean; a daughter, Cathy Horiuchi (and her husband, Rich), a son, David (and his wife, Eva), and five grandsons: Nathaniel, Jacob, and Nigel Knutson, and Aaron and Jordan Horiuchi. He is also survived by two brothers, Kenneth (and his wife, JoAnn) and Lyle (and his wife Karen), a sister, Ruth Ann Bamsey (and her husband, Vern), and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sena and Arthur Knutson.
Blessed be his memory.
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