Myrtle L. Knutson

MADISON-Myrtle Lucinda Knutson, daughter of Lawrence and Luella (Ellickson) Smithback, was born Oct. 2, 1920, in Cambridge, Wis. She entered into eternal rest on Sunday, Nov. 19, 201, at home, surrounded by loved ones. Myrtle was raised and educated in Cambridge, where her family farmed. She attended and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1938. Myrtle took secretarial classes at Madison College and was soon employed as a stenographer at a warehouse in Edgerton. She perfected her skills over the years and eventually secured a job in the Dane County Clerk’s office, where she retired in 1983. She especially enjoyed issuing marriage licenses, including those for her own children. Myrtle was briefly married to Nile Martin, who died from injuries received in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944. She was united in marriage to Curtis Knutson on Feb. 22, 1946, and they made their home in Madison. Myrtle was a loving mother and homemaker in the only two residences the family occupied; the first on Willard Avenue and finally at Tompkins Drive. She resumed her career after the children were in school. After retirement, Myrtle and Curtis enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends. Her travels included trips to Hawaii, an Alaskan cruise, and Scotland. She especially enjoyed a trip to Norway, as her sister, Lila and nephew, Tom Emmert joined her in a search for her ancestral roots. Myrtle’s smile and joyful presence was a welcome sight at family baptisms, graduations and weddings, where she always enjoyed a dance and drink or two. She was an avid reader, knitter and quilter, and enjoyed solving crossword and Sudoku puzzles. Her skills as a “card shark” playing “65” and canasta are legendary and brought family and friends together around a common table. Myrtle is survived by her husband of 71 years, Curtis; children, Linda (Dean) Peterson of New London, Wis., Sherrie (Jan) Loomis of Payson, Ariz., and Steven (Donna) Knutson of Madison; grandchildren, Ryan Peterson, Brady Peterson, Brent (Julia) Peterson, Megan (Nick) Bremer, Jonathan (Heather) Loomis, Jennifer Loomis, Jaime (Bill) Reese, Lori (Andy) Lecker, Matthew Knutson, Lisa Wrasse and Alan Wrasse; 17 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband; her siblings; and great-granddaughter, Kjersti Bremer.  A Celebration of Myrtle’s life will be held at GUNDERSON FITCHBURG FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 2950 Chapel Valley Rd., Fitchburg, at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017.  Interment will be at Roselawn Memorial Park.  Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday.  Memorials may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.