Donald Henry Knuth

Our Lord Jesus called Donald Henry Knuth to his heavenly home on April 18, 2023, at the age of 95. The word "blessed" was a word commonly used by his family when speaking about his life.
Don was first blessed with faith in his Savior through Baptism and was spiritually fed at his church, First German Evangelical Lutheran, where he had actively served as trustee and usher through the years.
Don was blessed with a family who loved him and learned so much from him. With Elisabeth, his wife of 67 years, they shared the joys of life with faith and family.
Don and Liz were blessed with their home on Silver Creek Road. They hosted many gatherings and fish boils on their six acres of property. Taking care of the yard and woods was one of his favorite pastimes. Children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren helped with tree cutting, brush moving, and log hauling. The wood was used in their home for woodwork, flooring, and furniture for the family. Walks over the bridge and to the woods kept him active.
Don was blessed with a love of travel, and together with family traveled around the United States and around the world to places like Germany, Greece, Ireland, and Norway. Five trips to Zambia and Malawi encouraged their daughter and son-in-law who served in the mission field there.
Don was blessed with a love of learning. He enjoyed books and magazines on steam trains, ships, anything mechanical, history, and Biblical archeology. He was also blessed with a fantastic memory and intelligence, making conversations with him interesting and informative.
Don was blessed with the joy of trains. Many trips were planned around where they could see or enjoy a ride on a steam train. Colorado and those trains beckoned him often. He also built a train track for his family to ride around in his woods.
Donald Henry Knuth was born on May 9, 1927, to Herbert and Aletha Knuth in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He graduated from Lincoln High School and went on to serve his country, enlisting in the Navy in May of 1945. While in the Pacific, he celebrated the end of the war and later mothballed ships in San Diego until 1948. He earned an Agricultural Engineering degree from Purdue University, and courted Liz while testing farm equipment for Case Corporation in Arizona. Don and Elisabeth Katherina Koch were married on September 11, 1955, in Morrison, Wisconsin; when he started working for Mirro Aluminum, they returned to Manitowoc. They were blessed with five children: Donald R. and Suzanne (Behnke) Knuth of Fond du Lac, WI; Karen and Dr. James Grunwald of Manitowoc, WI; David Knuth of Waukesha, WI; Katherine and Rev. Paul Waldek of Trumbull, CT; and Kay Knuth of Green Bay, WI. They were blessed with 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Family also includes Robert and Marilyn Knuth of Green Bay, WI, and Rev. Henry and Judy Koch of Manitowoc, WI. He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws, and Ruth (Koch) and Arthur Freix of Green Bay, WI.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at First German Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1033 South 8th Street, Manitowoc. Officiating at the service will be the Rev. Jacob Hoff with burial to follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Manitowoc. Military honors will be accorded by American Legion Drews Bleser Post 88 of Manitowoc. Following the burial service, a luncheon will be held at the church hall. The family will greet relatives and friends from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 28, 2023 at the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home, 628 North Water Street, Manitowoc. The visitation will continue on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m. at First German Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Memorials may be given to First German Lutheran Church Organ Fund or Manitowoc Lutheran High School. The family is grateful to Unity Hospice for their service and support.
The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home, Manitowoc, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com.
Don's family and friends are blessed to have known him, and rejoice to know that he is now enjoying the glories of heaven.
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