Philip
Philip F Knautz
d. April 26, 2010
Long time Gustavus Adolphus College concert choir director and Associate Professor of
Music Philip F. Knautz died on April 26, 2010 at Pine Ridge Assisted Living Center in
Colby, Wisconsin. Visitation and service will be at First Lutheran Church on Saturday May 1st, with the Reverend Alan Bray officiating. Visitation will be from 12:00 to 1:30 with the funeral service at 1:30. Burial will be at Woodland Hills Memorial Park in Mankato at 4:00 pm. St. Peter Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Mr. Knautz was born in Finshafen, New Guinea, on July 12, 1923, to missionaries Fred and Margaret Knautz. He attended public schools in Fargo, N.D. where he was primarily interested in music and the theater and graduated from Central High School in 1941. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN until he was called into military service in WW II. He served with the 45th Infantry Division was wounded and briefly captured. He later served with the 508th Battalion Military Police. He received the Combat Infantryman badge, the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and African-Mideast-European campaign medals.
Following his discharge, he enrolled at Gustavus Adolphus College, graduating with a B.A. degree in 1948. He began graduate study at the University of Colorado, Boulder and received a Master of Music degree from the University of Texas, Austin. He directed the concert choir and taught music at Texas Lutheran College, Seguine for six years. In 1954, he accepted a similar position at Gustavus. He directed the concert choir and taught music courses until 1980 when he became the Director of Fine Arts program until retiring in 1985. Other activities included chorus director and dean of American Legion Boys State, director of the St. Peter and Mankato area barbershop choruses, performed many roles in community theaters and was soloist for many musical events. He was a member of the American Legion and V.F.W.
He is survived by wife Marlys, daughter Cheri Roberts (Red Wing, MN), son and daughter-in-law Paul and Valerie Knautz (Abbotsford, WI), son Timothy Knautz (Crystal, MN) along with five grandchildren, one great-grandchild and four step-children and spouses. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Ruth and son-in-law Clayton Roberts. Memorials are preferred for the Gustavus Adolphus College Choir and/or the Mankato Riverblenders.
Music Philip F. Knautz died on April 26, 2010 at Pine Ridge Assisted Living Center in
Colby, Wisconsin. Visitation and service will be at First Lutheran Church on Saturday May 1st, with the Reverend Alan Bray officiating. Visitation will be from 12:00 to 1:30 with the funeral service at 1:30. Burial will be at Woodland Hills Memorial Park in Mankato at 4:00 pm. St. Peter Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Mr. Knautz was born in Finshafen, New Guinea, on July 12, 1923, to missionaries Fred and Margaret Knautz. He attended public schools in Fargo, N.D. where he was primarily interested in music and the theater and graduated from Central High School in 1941. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN until he was called into military service in WW II. He served with the 45th Infantry Division was wounded and briefly captured. He later served with the 508th Battalion Military Police. He received the Combat Infantryman badge, the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and African-Mideast-European campaign medals.
Following his discharge, he enrolled at Gustavus Adolphus College, graduating with a B.A. degree in 1948. He began graduate study at the University of Colorado, Boulder and received a Master of Music degree from the University of Texas, Austin. He directed the concert choir and taught music at Texas Lutheran College, Seguine for six years. In 1954, he accepted a similar position at Gustavus. He directed the concert choir and taught music courses until 1980 when he became the Director of Fine Arts program until retiring in 1985. Other activities included chorus director and dean of American Legion Boys State, director of the St. Peter and Mankato area barbershop choruses, performed many roles in community theaters and was soloist for many musical events. He was a member of the American Legion and V.F.W.
He is survived by wife Marlys, daughter Cheri Roberts (Red Wing, MN), son and daughter-in-law Paul and Valerie Knautz (Abbotsford, WI), son Timothy Knautz (Crystal, MN) along with five grandchildren, one great-grandchild and four step-children and spouses. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Ruth and son-in-law Clayton Roberts. Memorials are preferred for the Gustavus Adolphus College Choir and/or the Mankato Riverblenders.
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