Wesley Knutsen was the first child born to Alma and Cornelius Knutsen on July 27, 1931 in Polk County, Wisconsin. His early years of life on the farm were in a time before electricity and significant use of tractors; horses were still the primary way to get work done in a land of rolling farm fields and forests. These formative years were the basis of Wesley’s lifelong love of all things related to farming. In 1940, his parents purchased and moved the family to the farm in the Town of Cato near Manitowoc that continues to be owned by the family. Wesley would often tell stories of this time growing up with his brother, Archie, helping his father with milking cows and working in the fields. It was hard work but there was also some time for fun, exploration, and mischief that two brothers create and share. As a farm kid, he would come up with practical and inexpensive solutions to a problem. He needed new tires for his bike during the war when rubber tires were not available. He fashioned workable tires for his bike from a scrap piece of hay rope he found on the farm. This kind of thinking was something he used everyday around home as well as at work for the rest of his life.

Wesley attended a one room elementary school near the farm and Valders High School. He enrolled in vocational training in Green Bay where he learned and excelled at the fundamentals of mechanical repair work and welding. He was always eager to learn about subjects that were useful and practical to him and continued to learn well into his later years. Wesley enlisted in the United States Army in the early 1950’s and served his country as a military policeman and later a generator mechanic at several bases in the southwest United States. Like many veterans, he loved to share stories of his experiences of his time in the Army. After discharge from the Army, Wesley began work as a diesel mechanic and equipment demonstrator for Adams Machinery during the initial construction of I-94 in western Wisconsin. He worked outside in every kind of weather throughout Wisconsin to keep large highway construction equipment repaired and running. Diesel powered equipment and trucks were at the core of his career and retirement job; as he progressed through his career he worked for Inland Diesel, Advance Transportation, Aring Equipment / Roland Machinery, and Lannon Stone Products. Wesley married Marilyn, his wife of 59 years, in 1964 in Milwaukee. The following year they welcomed James to the family and Karen a few years later. They moved to their home in Menomonee Falls in 1966 where Wesley was always working to maintain and improve the house and the property. A short list of projects he handled was as follows: remodeling the basement, adding a bathroom, remodeling a bathroom and the kitchen, masonry work to expand the porch, pouring the concrete driveway, all kinds of plumbing and electrical work, installing a new furnace and air conditioning, re-roofing the house several times. He was 75 the last time he re-roofed the house and used 20 year shingles because he figured he wouldn’t outlast the roof; the house had to get a new roof last year! Wesley was a good husband, father, friend, worker, member of the community, and steadfast servant of God. He was a man of faith and a charter member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Menomonee Falls. He was a longtime member of the Lannon Lions club and held several officer positions over the years.

Wesley always enjoyed the outdoors. His family travelled and camped on many trips across Wisconsin and the United States often visiting national parks and monuments.He also enjoyed boating and water skiing until he was 65. He was an occasional golfer and fisherman. He cut, split, and hauled untold cords of firewood from the north woods to heat his house. After he retired, he spent many hours outdoors on the family farm working on cleanup and maintenance of the farmstead. As Marilyn’s health and ability to handle tasks in the house declined, Wes learned to handle many things in the house; he managed to learn enough about cooking to regularly get a meal on the table for both of them. His daughter Karen often provided advice about the household work and prepared food to help them. He worked hard to care for Marilyn. As you can see, Wesley was a man that always wanted to be “getting things done”. As he got older, the physical work became more difficult for him. He gave up changing the oil in his vehicles when he was 88; he had certainly earned a rest by that time. He continued to do what he could around the house, yard, and farm. Wesley was sometimes frustrated in his later years that he wasn’t able to get things done like he once did. He has likely already tackled a couple of projects in Heaven. Wesley is survived by his children, James and Karen (Michael) Kuchar, grandchildren Christopher and Nicholas Knutsen, and Katie and Laura Kuchar. The Knutsen Family wants to give thanks to all of the family, friends, church, and community members that visited Wesley and sent notes and cards to him at Brookdale in Brookfield. He always enjoyed the visits and messages he received. Michael Kuchar is thanked for his long time help maintaining Wesley’s yard, driveway, and keeping an eye on everything related to the house. The family also extends a warm thank you and sense of appreciation to the staff of Brookdale Memory Care in Brookfield. Your kindness and compassionate care of Wesley was evident and will be remembered. May you keep up the amazing work.

Funeral services for Wesley will be held on January 10th, 2026 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Menomonee Falls (W180 N7863 Town Hall Road). The visitation for Wesley will be at 11:00am until the time of service at 12:00.  The Rev. Jamie Larson-McLoone officiating. Private family inurnment.