Erling Knudsen Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Erling "Earl"Willard Thomas Knudsen, age 88 of Strongsville, died Sunday, February 13, 2005 at Falling Waters Heath Care Center, Strongsville following a short illness. He was born November 16, 1916 in Scofield, Wisconsin. He had resided in Strongsville the past year moving from Columbia Station where he had lived for 60 years. He was a member of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Berea. He worked as a Operating Engineer operating large cranes and digging shale for brick making at Cleveland Builder's Supply (CBS) for 36 years retiring in 1981. He was a life member of Operating Engineers Union Local # 18. Mr. Knudsen was a Sergeant in the US Army's 3557th Ordinance Maintenance Co. He was a WW II veteran having served from 1941-1945. He spent considerable time in Persia in the Middle East (today's Iran). He was a member of the Persian Gulf Command Veterans Organization. Mr. Knudsen had many personal interests and hobbies. He enjoyed fishing, repairing small engines, working on cars, doing maintenance projects around the house, creating woodworking projects with his wife Doris and spending time with his many grandchildren. Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Doris L. Knudsen (nee Kleppe) daughter, Erlene Smith of Columbia Station; 2 Sons, Wayne Knudsen of Elyria, Lloyd Knudsen of Sharon Center; five grandchildren, six great grandchildren; 2 Sisters, Lullabelle Handel of Duluth, Minnesota, Dawn Ulmer of Valley City; and brother, Roland Knudsen of Duluth, Minnesota. He was preceded in death by Parents, Alex and Mary Knudsen, brother, Norman, sister Blanche Kleppe and one grandson, Steven Smith. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8, Tuesday, February 15 at the David Bogner Family Funeral Home, 36625 Center Ridge Road North Ridgeville. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 11:00AM in the funeral home. Rev. Tom Henderson will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church 276 Bagley Road Berea, Ohio 44017 or the Cleveland Area Alzheimer's Assoc. 12200 Fairhill Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44120. The family would like to thank the entire staff of Crystal Waters Retirement Community in Strongsville for the tender loving care they have given both Erling and Doris over the past year