Mary Jane Knuttila, 75, passed away Jan. 31, 2007, in Wadena, with her family beside her.
She was born Jan. 20, 1932, to Florence and Paul Koennicke in Perham.
She graduated as class valedictorian from Perham High School in 1949. She was united in marriage to Jerome (Jerry) Knuttila on Sept. 7, 1949, in Perham. She received a degree in business from the University of Minnesota-Morris.
She began her career as a receptionist for a dental office in Park Rapids. She also helped with the family business, Knuttila Implement, in Perham and Park Rapids. She was an assistant librarian at the Perham High School. She was involved with the Community Action Council in New York Mills. She was instrumental in starting the fuel assistance and weatherization program in Minnesota with the help of Walter Mondale. She later became the regional director for Planned Parenthood in Minnesota. She was always involved in the community and very service-oriented in everything she did. She was also a talented seamstress along with many other hobbies. She and Jerry semi-retired to Minneapolis where they were building managers of Loring Green. They enjoyed their time in the Twin Cities.
Most importantly to her family, she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.
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The Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, Feb. 3, at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Wadena with the Rev. Donald Wagner as celebrant. Interment will be in the Haycreek Cemetery in Sebeka. Honorary pallbearers were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Pallbearers were Chris Knuttila, Scott Loween, Brad Loween, Dana Damm, Erik Damm and Travis Christianson. Johnson Memorial Home is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include her daughters, Paula (Earl) Damm and Peggy (Scott) Loween of Wadena; son, Chris (Linda) of Atwater; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
