Wayne Loren Knauss

Wayne Loren Knauss, 79, of Hawley, MN, went to his heavenly home on July 11, 2024, at SMP Health - St. Catherine North, Fargo, ND. Wayne was born in Watertown, MN, on January 1, 1945, the oldest of six children to Loren and Dorothy (Busby) Knauss. A farm boy, he joined the U.S. Army, serving in Germany from August 1967 to 1969. Wayne married “his jewel” Julia Ann Goettl on May 18, 1971, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca, MN. Working for A.O. Breeders Harvester Division in New Prague, MN, he was promoted in 1975 to management for Valley Harvestore Systems, Inc. and moved his family to Hawley, MN. Later, he joined Clay-Becker Implement, a John Deere dealership. Over the years in semi-retirement, he shared his knack for process improvement, attention to detail, and belief in quality work with several construction industry companies and the City of Hawley. He and Julia also owned J & W Services, providing mowing, tilling, wood cutting, and snow removal.

Throughout Wayne’s over 50 years in Hawley, he helped build St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and the Hawley Rodeo. He was also active in the American Legion and other clubs and organizations. He loved the outdoors, tinkering, collecting, and traveling to visit family and friends. Giving back, growing in faith, taking an interest in everyone he met, and making a difference through his positive and humble outlook are the legacy he leaves.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 53 years, Julia, Hawley, MN; three daughters and their husbands, Christel Ann Knauss (Bruce) Gollnick, Trimble, MO; Angela Knauss (Daniel) Haas, New Prague, MN; Rose Maria (Zachary) Swenson, Andover, MN. He will also be missed by grandchildren Oliver Haas, Elliot Haas, Bayani Swanson, Ada Gollnick, Lilianna Swenson, and Logan Swenson; great-grandchildren Abram Haas, Violet Haas, and Rosalina Valencia-Swanson; siblings Jane (Lon) Morsching, Ralph Knauss (Jeanette), and Jim Knauss; sisters-in-law Linda Knauss and Cynthia Knauss; in-laws James (Terrie) Goettl, and Myra (Ron) Jongbloedt; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and friends who were like family members to him.

He has been reunited in heaven with his parents, parents-in-law Julian and Mary Goettl, and younger brothers Neil Knauss and Bruce Knauss.

Visitation will be Sunday, July 21, 2024, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., with a reflective prayer service from 5:00 - 5:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Hawley, MN. Wayne’s Funeral Mass and Rite of Christian Committal will be Monday, July 22, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., at the church. A livestream of the service will be available here on Wayne's webpage. Final resting place will be the family’s Hillside Cemetery, Morristown, MN.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, the Fargo VA Health Care System, REACH in Hawley, American Cancer Society, and Roots and Rounds to honor Wayne’s service to others.