Born - February 6, 1911 - Irwin, Iowa
Died - June 1, 1995 - Manilla, Iowa
Prayer Service Friday, June 2, 1995 - 8:00 P.M. Pauley Funeral Home - Harlan, Iowa
Funeral Service Saturday, June 3, 1995 - 2:00 P.M. St. Paul's Lutheran Church - Irwin, Iowa
Clergy Rev. Sidney Flack
Organist Nancy Larson
Honorary Casket Bearers: Merlene Brue, Gailord Knudson, La Vern Brue, Norman Wiig, Kenneth Knudson, Lonnie Barten
Casket Bearers: Brian Knudson, Brad Knudson, Brenda Knudson, Karin Knudson, Jason Knudson, Kristin Knudson, Craig Wigness, Cindy Wigness, Denise Wigness
Interment Danway Cemetery - Irwin, Iowa

An invitation is extended to the relatives and friends to meet with the family in the Irwin Community Building at the close of the committal service.

Velma Georgia Knudson, 84
Velma Georgia Knudson, daughter of John and Marie (Witt) Andresen was born February 6, 1911, on a farm north of Irwin. She attended school at Jefferson Township No. 4, was a charter member of the Jefferson Jolly Jumpers 4-H club in 1925, and graduated from Irwin Consolidated School in 1928. In 1931 she received her teaching degree from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. She taught in Jefferson and Polk Township rural schools four years.

December 6, 1936, she married Henry Mayer Knudson in Irwin. They made their home north of Manning, where their three children were born. In 1939 she started the Homemakers club and in 1945, the Past Presidents club. The family then moved to a farm south of Vail in 1950 where she was an active member of the Snap club.

In 1954 the family returned to her home place north of Irwin. She became a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church where she was active as a Sunday school teacher and superintendent, in choir, church women serving local, conference and district offices. She served as PTA president, 4-H leader, Shelby County Extension Living Committee, Farm Bureau Women, Irwin Library club, Jefferson Community club, community election board and sold Avon. She was named Shelby County Homemaker of the year in 1958.

They moved to Irwin in 1970 where her life as a "Senior Citizen" began when West Central Development selected her chair of a committee to discover the needs of the aged in the Irwin community. In June 1970 she promoted the idea of a senior citizen group, which called themselves Keenagers. While serving as president of the group, the meal site was started and a permanent location was established. From 1975 to 1985 she was very active in Senior Citizen affairs including, Shelby County Health Fair, Shelby County Senior Citizens Committee, Senior Advocate with Legal Service Training, assisted with the Irwin History for Shelby County History Books, served on Southwest Iowa Area XIII Advisory Council and Area XIII delegate to Iowa White House Conference on aging. In 1985 she was given the Governor's Award as Outstanding Individual Volunteer.

Her marriage of 55 years ended with the death of her husband in 1991. She moved to Manilla Manor in 1992 and remained active in their events. It was there she died June 1, 1995, at age 84 years, 3 months, and 26 days.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother, Lester Andresen, brothers-in-law Carl Wiese and Clarence Barten. She is survived by her son, Larry (Judy) Knudson of Irwin and Lyle Knudson of Denver, Colorado; her daughter Linda (Jerald) Wigness of Harlan; nine grandchildren, three great grandchildren; her sisters Leona Wiese of Irwin and Maurine Barten of Manning; sister-in-law Lillian Andresen of Manning and other relatives.

Funeral services were held June 3, 1995, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Irwin, with Rev. Sidney Flack officiating. Burial was in Danway Cemetery, Irwin with Merlene Brue, Gailord Knudson, LaVern Brue, Norman Wiig, Kenneth Knudson and Lonnie Barten, honorary casket bearers. Casket bearers were Brian Knudson, Brad Knudson, Brenda Knudson, Karen Knudson, Jason Knudson, Kristin Knudson, Craig Wigness, Cindy Wigness, and Denise Wigness. Pauley Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.