Obituary for Donald George Knudsen
Donald Knudsen
It is with heavy hearts that the family announces the sudden passing of Donald (Don) Knudsen on December 26, 2022 at the age of 85. Don was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Pat; sons Kerry (Kathy), Christopher (Janelle) daughter-in law, Darlene; grandchildren Candace (Terry), Stephanie (Keith), Andrew (Amanda), Emma, Kirk (Kylie) and Kole (Maddy); and great grandchildren Shealyn, Jaxsen, Ryan and soon to be born, Noah.
He was predeceased by his son Michael in 2019.
Don’s schooling began at Immaculate Conception, then St. Ignatius, followed by St. Paul’s High School at the original downtown campus. In 1952 when his mother had one of the first ever open-heart surgeries in Philadelphia, Don went to live with the Stephanchew family for a time where he and Richard became like brothers. Don started his working career with R&E Thermal at a young age, and in 1972 his entrepreneurial pursuits began when he established Knudsen’s Pipe Dream, a specialty retail shop offering the finest selection of cigars, pipes and custom blended pure tobacco, which eventually grew to two stores in Winnipeg and a total of 10 stores across Canada. At one point, the stores had a substantial mail-order business sending their products to customers all over the world. Don finished his career with Sports Display Inc, an advertising firm based in Southern California where he excelled amongst a field of 200 sales professionals, winning the top 10 sales award on several occasions and eventually earning the Sales Professional of the Year award in North America.
He was extremely proud of his Danish heritage which was reinforced when he had the chance to visit Denmark in 1977. Don and Pat enjoyed numerous trips together all over the world, connected mainly with their business. Most favorite of all was the trip to Oman and Dubai to visit Michael who was building a golf course there in 2010. He loved all sports, his favorite being golf. For many years, Don was a member of Pine Ridge Golf Club, including serving on the Board of Governors and as President, as well as provincial council member and publicity chairman for the Manitoba Golf Association. He always looked forward to playing golf with his sons, and grandsons, and thoroughly enjoyed many hours in hockey arenas, either coaching or watching them play a game. In recent years, he enjoyed meeting monthly for breakfast with his “St. Paul’s buddies”, mostly friends from childhood, reminiscing about events from the 50’s to the present. An avid volunteer, over the years Don spent many hours participating in the CNIB Blind Golfer Program as a coach, as a driver with Meals on Wheels and with CancerCare MB.
Family was always the most important thing in Don’s life. He cherished times spent together and was very proud of his children’s accomplishments, but mostly of their character. He will be sadly missed, fondly remembered and never forgotten.
Cremation has taken place, and a funeral mass will be held on Thursday, January 12th at 1:00pm at Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, 85 Kirkbridge Drive, Winnipeg, with Fr. Gerry Ward officiating.
For those who wish to view a recording of the funeral mass you may do so by going to the 'Photos & Videos' tab at the top of the page, scroll down and select 'Watch Webcast'.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Don’s memory to the
CPF Foundation, or United Way Winnipeg
“gone is the face we love so dear, silent is the voice we love to hear.
Too far away for sight or speech, but not too far for thought to reach.
Sweet to remember him who once was here, and who, though absent, is just as dear.”
It is with heavy hearts that the family announces the sudden passing of Donald (Don) Knudsen on December 26, 2022 at the age of 85. Don was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Pat; sons Kerry (Kathy), Christopher (Janelle) daughter-in law, Darlene; grandchildren Candace (Terry), Stephanie (Keith), Andrew (Amanda), Emma, Kirk (Kylie) and Kole (Maddy); and great grandchildren Shealyn, Jaxsen, Ryan and soon to be born, Noah.
He was predeceased by his son Michael in 2019.
Don’s schooling began at Immaculate Conception, then St. Ignatius, followed by St. Paul’s High School at the original downtown campus. In 1952 when his mother had one of the first ever open-heart surgeries in Philadelphia, Don went to live with the Stephanchew family for a time where he and Richard became like brothers. Don started his working career with R&E Thermal at a young age, and in 1972 his entrepreneurial pursuits began when he established Knudsen’s Pipe Dream, a specialty retail shop offering the finest selection of cigars, pipes and custom blended pure tobacco, which eventually grew to two stores in Winnipeg and a total of 10 stores across Canada. At one point, the stores had a substantial mail-order business sending their products to customers all over the world. Don finished his career with Sports Display Inc, an advertising firm based in Southern California where he excelled amongst a field of 200 sales professionals, winning the top 10 sales award on several occasions and eventually earning the Sales Professional of the Year award in North America.
He was extremely proud of his Danish heritage which was reinforced when he had the chance to visit Denmark in 1977. Don and Pat enjoyed numerous trips together all over the world, connected mainly with their business. Most favorite of all was the trip to Oman and Dubai to visit Michael who was building a golf course there in 2010. He loved all sports, his favorite being golf. For many years, Don was a member of Pine Ridge Golf Club, including serving on the Board of Governors and as President, as well as provincial council member and publicity chairman for the Manitoba Golf Association. He always looked forward to playing golf with his sons, and grandsons, and thoroughly enjoyed many hours in hockey arenas, either coaching or watching them play a game. In recent years, he enjoyed meeting monthly for breakfast with his “St. Paul’s buddies”, mostly friends from childhood, reminiscing about events from the 50’s to the present. An avid volunteer, over the years Don spent many hours participating in the CNIB Blind Golfer Program as a coach, as a driver with Meals on Wheels and with CancerCare MB.
Family was always the most important thing in Don’s life. He cherished times spent together and was very proud of his children’s accomplishments, but mostly of their character. He will be sadly missed, fondly remembered and never forgotten.
Cremation has taken place, and a funeral mass will be held on Thursday, January 12th at 1:00pm at Mary, Mother of the Church Parish, 85 Kirkbridge Drive, Winnipeg, with Fr. Gerry Ward officiating.
For those who wish to view a recording of the funeral mass you may do so by going to the 'Photos & Videos' tab at the top of the page, scroll down and select 'Watch Webcast'.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Don’s memory to the
CPF Foundation, or United Way Winnipeg
“gone is the face we love so dear, silent is the voice we love to hear.
Too far away for sight or speech, but not too far for thought to reach.
Sweet to remember him who once was here, and who, though absent, is just as dear.”