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BORN
1929
DIED
2025
ALLAN KNUDSON Obituary
December 23, 1929 – March 22, 2025
Allan A. Knudson, MD, was born December 23, 1929, in a small town of Pollock South Dakota, which was named after his great-grandfather R.Y. Pollock. He grew up in a family of 4 boys and 1 girl.
He learned to work hard on the family farm and enjoyed the small-town community, in which he grew up. School, friends, and church were the backbone of his childhood. While in school in Pollock, he came to enjoy learning and sports. He played basketball, football and baseball. Church was a big part of his Pollock life, so much so that the love of the Lord continued throughout his life.
He excelled in his studies in high school and college at South Dakota State. After receiving his degree, he served as a Pharmacist in Japan during the Korean Conflict. Also, he worked as a pharmacist with the Presbyterian Mission Hospital in Ganado, Arizonia with Navajo people. While in Ganado, he was active in the sports program as he played basketball, umpired baseball, and enjoyed being part of the medical mission and getting to know the wonderful people with whom he worked and served. He met his wife Jean Skinner while there. It was while there that medical school was his calling. He was accepted to Marquette University Medical School but served as math teacher at the Presbyterian Junior College in Mississippi prior to attending.
In 1958, he started medical school and excelled even while working as a pharmacist on the weekend. During his junior year, he was awarded a scholarship to study anywhere he wished to go. He chose a Presbyterian Medical outreach in Thailand. For two months, he visited hospitals and small towns and saw how medicine was practiced in a different part of the world.
After graduation, he chose to Intern in Phoenix, after which he came to Hanford and worked at Kings County Hospital among wonderful, caring people. He learned so much practical medicine from working in the ER there. He excelled in a Family Medicine physician before Family Medicine existed.
If you were to ask him how he accomplished so much, he would say the Lord lead him all the way. Through all the good times and the sad times of losing his brothers in their 30's and 40's.
While in practice in Hanford, he enjoyed helping his patients anyway he could. He enjoyed delivering many babies.
When he was not working, he enjoyed sports, especially basketball, and was active at the First Presbyterian Church in Hanford where he spent several years as an Elder.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years Jean, sons Bill (Laura) and Paul (Jennifer) and his daughter Sarah, who was a great help during his retirement. He is also survived by his grandchildren Talia, Julianna, Daniel, and Ken, as well as his sister Lucille Knudson Bradley. He was preceded in death by his mother Emma (Pollock) Knudson, father, Oscar Knudson, brothers James, Leslie, and Ken, and daughter Elizabeth.
A memorial service with be held on Saturday April 26, 2025, at 2 PM at the Hanford First Presbyterian Church (340 North Irwin St, Hanford, CA).
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for ALLAN KNUDSON
Linda Jennings
July 17, 2025
He was my doctor, he was a kind man
Lena Escobar
June 9, 2025
Am so sorry to hear of Dr. Knudson's passing. He was such a kind man. I last saw Doctor a few months before I retired. We had a nice chat. A Gentleman always. My Prayers are with his family.
Elias R. Martinez
June 8, 2025
Words cannot describe what I'm feeling about his passing..
Godspeed and Farewell
My wife and I,,will never find a loving, and caring Dr.
My condolences to the entire family
Deanna Raeber
June 4, 2025
Thank You God for bringing Dr. Knudson to Hanford! He was so gentle, knowledgeable, took time to answer questions, was thorough with his treatment! My appointments were like visiting with a wonderful uncle. He was a friend! I have missed having him as my doctor!! Rest in peace dear Dr. Knudson :)
Paula Martinez
June 2, 2025
Dr K was our entire families Dr. He treated my parents with he upmost respect. My mom loved him. Whatever he said was gospel. My sincerest condolences to his family.
Rebecca (Vidaurri) Gomez Olson
May 19, 2025
Dear Jean, I´m so sorry for the loss of your lifelong love. I know words cannot begin to express the depth of your loss. May he rest in Jesus arms. My deepest condolences to you and your family! He was a good good person!
Pauline Avery
May 14, 2025
So sorry to hear of Dr.Knudson´s passing. My daughter just sent me his obituary. Best Dr. ever. He was my 1st Dr.,seeing him with a broken collarbone from a horse,as a teenager. He delivered 5 of my 7 children,and has been our family Dr. for decades. We will always remember Dr.Knudson. May God comfort all his family and friends.
Linda Jennings
May 6, 2025
Love and prayers to the family of Dr. Knudson. He was my kind and compassionate doctor
Cristy Atwood Van Hook
May 6, 2025
I was so saddened to hear of the passing of Dr Knudson´s....my personal doctor for many years. I didn´t know until May 4th..,too late to honor him at his memorial. I loved how he cared for his patients... including me. He saw many of my "Home Health patients and even made home calls when a patient had no way to come in to his office. I attended church with him and his loving family ... knowing Jean and his daughter Sarah well. I send my sincere heartfelt condolences to the family. A family who shared him with his career ... many hours away from home serving the patients he loved. I was blessed to not only call him Doctor ... but to call him Friend. RIP Dr Al.
Roy Fialho
April 27, 2025
Our condolences to the Family of dr Knudsen who was our family´s doctor since moving to Hanford in 1982. He took care of us as if he was our own family until he retired. Even after retiring he attended both my parents funeral. Such a wonderful person who is now watching over my parents again.
Patricia Frank
April 24, 2025
He was my Doctor from 1970 to 2015 , we moved away and he was so missed , He was a wonderful man going way past what he had to do for people, its hard to find this kind of Doctor anymore , so sad , RIP and you were a Hero !
Elaine Dicks
April 16, 2025
What an amazing man and doctor. He was all about helping his patients. My husband and my children will always remember him for his kindness and great skills as a physician. May you rest in peace.
Nancy Stebbins
April 16, 2025
Dr. K became our family doctor after I worked with him at Sacred Heart. Not only was he very good at his profession, but also very caring and compassionate. He was always there when one of his patients came into the ER. We felt very secure in his care and miss him to this day.
Rosa Family
April 14, 2025
Our thoughta and prayers are with his family. He was our family Dr. For 20+ years he delivered 4 of my 5 children and took wonderful care for each of them, he was a truly wonderful person.
Linda Hickey
April 13, 2025
Very sad to hear about Dr. Knudson. I worked for him at Hanford Medical Group in the billing department. He was always so kind and wore a smile. He cared about his employees. I worked there in the year of 1975-76. He will be missed.
Linda Hickey
Debbie Mondry
April 13, 2025
Dr. Knudson, was our Family Dr. For over 20+ yrs. We couldn't have asked for better Dr. He delivered our daughter. He was the most giving Dr. He was always pleasant, always there when you needed him going out of his way to make sure you had what ever it was.Dr. Knudson, just got his second set of wings. His first ones was when he came here to practice Medicine!
Margaret Salyer
April 13, 2025
My love and prayers for your family at this difficult time. I worked with Dr Knudson for many years when I was an ICU nurse and then as a labor and delivery nurse. I delivered many babies with him during the night shift for many years. He was the kindest, most caring doctor to his patients and to the nurses! I have such wonderful memories of him. Heaven has gained another angel!
Jeannine Robinson
April 12, 2025
Me and my sister´s departed Mother, Rosemary Mendoza, worked with Dr. Knudson as one of his RN nurses in his office. I know he delivered me in 1973 and my daughter in 1994. He always remembered to ask about our mother and how we are doing. Our condolences to your family.
Pat Leasure
April 12, 2025
Dr Knudsen was our family doctor for many years. My mom met him when she worked in the kings county health dept & dr Knudsen was the director of the health dept. Probably early 70´s. He delivered my 4 babies & also my sister´s babies. He was the dr who 1st diagnosed my husbands type 1 diabetes & treated him for many years. My family often talk about what a great dr he was. He was truly a kind & caring man. Condolences to his family
Josie Cota
April 11, 2025
He was my doctor and a friend when I worked at Community zhospitsl. He became my doctor for a while. He always gave me such good advice when I was having family issues. He was such a good person my condolances. I am very sorry for the family. My prayers are with you all.
Daniel Gonzales
April 11, 2025
Bill & Paul, I´d like to thank you and your family members for sharing such a Wonderful Man with the community of Hanford and beyond! My late mother (Lillian Gonzales) talked very highly of your Dad, and she had the opportunity to work with him from time to time in the intensive care unit at The Hanford Community Hospital. He delivered me and my three brothers, as he was our family Dr., A Great Man Who Will Be Missed By Many! Your Dad and Entire Family are in my Prayers! All My Respect, Daniel Gonzales!
Rebecca Natali Syms
April 11, 2025
Knudsen Family-
My prayers go out to you all. I worked with Dr. K. at Kings County General Hospital as a nursing assistant when I was just out of high school in 1964. I well remember Doctor K. He was such a dedicated, caring and respected physician. He truly set high standards for future physicians; you all deserve to be proud of him.
Beverly Waymire Baker
April 10, 2025
My mom, Maxie Waymire, worked with him at the County Hospital. I have wonderful memories of going there and being a part of the family and especially enjoyed the ice cream socials held behind the hospital. I always remember Dr Knudsen as our family doctor and as a kind and caring man. Our community has lost an incredible icon. Rest in heaven Dr Knudsen. You are loved by so many.
Kathy Powell
April 10, 2025
A beautiful kind soul who was so loved by everyone. Blessings
Kathy Powell
Bobbie Aerni
April 10, 2025
Dr. Knudson was my doctor since 1976 he delivery all 3 of my kids RIP you will be missed
Donald white
April 10, 2025
My deepest condolences to your family. Dr Knudsen delivered our twin daughters back in 79 and son in 83. He was a wanderful and caring person
Dolores Maas
April 8, 2025
We are so sorry to hear that the community has lost such a caring man. He was our family doctor for many years, he was missed upon his retirement, Truly will be missed upon his death. Unforgettable.
Annette Bettencourt
April 8, 2025
Our deepest sympathy to the family. Dr Knudson was our family doctor and gave such wonderful care to my three daughters as they were growing up. He was always so kind and patient with the girls. May he rest in peace.
Katherine Terstegen
April 7, 2025
Years ago when my baby boy had croup really bad I drove to his office. He walked my daughter and me holding my son to the hospital. He wanted to make sure my son was safe! That was over 40 years ago and my son has 6 kids of his own! What a wonderful man and doctor!
Maria Marroquin Rivera
April 7, 2025
He had a heart of gold ,loving and very caring. Our family was bless to have him as our doctor for well over fifty years. When he would see us he would always fondly mention and with pride that my brothers who were born twins were his first set of full sized twins he had delivered each baby weighing in over 8lbs. We will forever miss you Dr. Knudson with much love for all the love and care you bestowed on us thru the years.
With much love
Maria Marroquin Rivera
Toni Ann (Parker) Nieto
April 7, 2025
To the Knutson Family... you have my deepest condolences at this trying time. My MOM ( Annie Parker R.N) worked with him for years and was his patient as well. Dr. Knutson , along with being a great physician was simply a very kind man . When my MOM was sick he always knew what to say to our family to put our hearts and minds at ease during those difficult times. During this trying time I hope that you can find comfort in knowing you have an angel in heaven you know by name.
Laurie Mello
April 6, 2025
My sincere condolences to all his family!! He was our family Dr. until he retired. He was so kind!! He would ask how my family was doing? He had such a good memory!!!
Lisa Ames Harper
April 4, 2025
Dr. Knudson was the kindest man I ever knew. He delivered my son and due to my financial condition he never charged me full price. Even after I had insurance he still still never charged me full price even when I told him to charge me full price. I just loved that man. I will never forget him. My sincere condolences to his family.
Lisa Ames Harper
Danny parolini
April 4, 2025
Dr Knutson was our family doctor until he retired. He was an excellent dr. But most of all he was kind & understanding
May he rest in peace
Sincerely
Danny & Jan parolini
Whitehurst-McNamara Funeral Service
April 4, 2025
Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.
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