Obituary of Joan M Knutson
Mary “Joan” Wagner Knutson,was born in Iowa City, Iowa to Paul and Permilla Wagner August 14, 1929. She was the eldest of five: Carolyn (Orth), James, David and Pamela, and survived by Carolyn and David.
Joan graduated from City High,Iowa City and ventured to Aims, Iowa to Iowa State where she studied Dietetics and Art. While attending college she found her artistic side in areas of drawing,painting as well as cooking and sewing. She did a year-long dietetics internship in Philadelphia, PA and earned a bachelor's degree in Foods and Nutrition in 1953. The biggest adventure at Iowa State was courting Otto Junior Knutson.
Joan and Otto married on May 8, 1954 in Iowa City, Iowa and started their life together in Cedar Rapids, IA. Within a short time the family grew to six. In 1962, Joan, pregnant and 4 children in tow, moved to Colorful Colorado where they bought their first home at 6636 S Lincoln in Littleton, CO and number seven arrived shortly after.
While raising 5 children, Joan learned to drive a stick shift (black VW bug), went to painting classes, as well as, delving into several arts and crafts: crocheting, knitting, school and holiday decorations. Not only a mother and wife; a room mother for each of her kids' classrooms, a den mother for Eric’s boy scout troop and leader of girl scouts. With a green thumb every Spring and Summer she tended flower and vegetable gardens so that in the fall and winter she could preserve a variety of foods by canning, freezing and cooking up jellies and jams.
After 1966 Joan pursued her career in dietetics and became a part time dietitian at National Jewish Hospital where she and Ann Knutson together worked for over a decade. Joan retired from her dietetic career at North Suburban Hospital.
In the spring of 1977 Joan and Otto contracted an architect to build their dream home on 10060 Phillips Road in Lafayette Colorado where many memorable times were shared with all, family and friends. Joan flourished there as a painter, quilter, gardner, decorator, baker, seamstress, and much more. She was also a great steward of her community and a dedicated servant to God as a member of St. Louis Catholic Church where she served for over 30 years.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband Otto, her parents Paul and Permilla Wagner, sister Pamela, and brother James. She is survived by her five children; Victorine Lee (Stott), Eric Lowell, Christine Marie (Unger), Catherine Lynette, and Laurie Jeanne (Monarchi); grandchildren; Jason, Shawn (Christina), Timothy, Ryan (Rochelle), and David (Maddy) Stott, Jeremiah (Jamie) and Erika (Jason Walker) Unger; and great grandchildren Zoe Unger, Charlotte, Rosie, Graham, Cole, and Rory Stott, Jaxon and Jemma Walker.
