Edith Knutson

Knutson, Edith Seymour MADISON - Edith Seymour Knutson entered eternal life on Sunday, June 3, 2007, at the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center, Fitchburg. Edith "Edie" Eudora Dombrock Knutson was born on May 1, 1917, in Dellona Township, Sauk County, daughter of Merton E. and Blanche (Jeffries) Seymour. She was the youngest of eight children. In 1935, Edie graduated from Reedsburg High School and then attended Duluth Business University. She was united in marriage to Emil Dombrock in 1948. He preceded her in death in 1957. In 1964, Edie married Maynard Knutson. She began work in 1936 at Hill, Miller and Hill in Baraboo as a legal secretary. Edies career continued in different positions in Wisconsin and Minnesota. She became secretary to Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Conner T. Hanson in 1967 and continued in that position until her retirement in 1980. Edie has made her final journey in a long list of travels to join her family and loved ones in Heaven. This final trip will fill up a whole new scrapbook. In her home are many scrapbooks that document her travels around the world, including trips to Africa, Korea, South America, and many countries in Europe. Edies travels also took her to numerous states in the U.S. When she was in her 80s, she took her last trip to Churchill, British Columbia to see the polar bears. Edie was so tickled with the picture she had taken of her pretending to drive a Tundra Buggy. Her scrapbooks filled with cards, letters, pictures and many mementos tell the story of her life as a daughter, sister, wife and favorite aunt to many nieces and nephews. Although Edie didnt have any children of her own, she was interested in the lives of her extended family and stayed in touch with everyone including the younger generations through letters and cards as well as phone calls. Edie had an amazing zest for life and an indomitable spirit. She could argue politics with the best of them and her interest in the world around her was the topic of conversation to whoever was visiting at the time. Edie loved going out to eat and was always willing to try something new. An eternal optimist, Edie bought a new car at age 85. To have a Buick again made her very happy. Edie was active in many different organizations that kept her busy and an intellectually vital person. Her church, Bethel Lutheran, was her second home and she filled many hours with her involvement in the church family. Edie was a life member of the Order of Eastern Star which covered 50 years. She belonged to the Friendship Force which took her on many interesting travels. Edie was a supporter of the International Crane Foundation. An eclectic woman, Edie loved the Badgers and Packers, seeing her first Packers game in the early 1940s. She loved the Concerts on the Square, the UW Band and the Overture Center. Her elephant figurine collection, many of which had special meanings connected to her travels, brought her many hours of enjoyment. Edies ability to meet a person and become a lifelong friend was very evident on April 30, 2007, when her family and friends gathered to help her celebrate her 90th birthday. More than 90 people came to express their love for Edie. It was a very special day for Edie to be able to visit with four different generations of family who loved her. She once commented to a great-niece, "Above all, in my life, the thing I cherish most are my friendships." Edith is survived by sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Seymour of Sarasota, Fla., and Marge Seymour of West Bend; brothers-in-law, John and Marcie Dombrock of Owatonna, Minn., and Harold Dombrock of St. Louis Park, Minn.; nieces and nephews, Bill and Beverly Burmester of Cottage Grove, Lois Seymour of Madison, Bob and Jill Burmester of Reedsburg, Jon and Jackie Seymour of Cincinnati, Ohio, Gary and Jane Seymour of West Bend, Joan and Milt Diehl of Sarasota, Fla., Carol and Mike Alvin of Waunakee, Kay and Larry Oppliger of Kalamazoo, Mich., Gary and Patti Davis of Columbus, Ky., Gene and Judy Davis of Waterloo, Ed and Betty Friede of Waukesha, Donald and Irene Seymour of Portage, Nancy Campbell of LaMesa, Calif., Sue Seymour of Mendota Heights, Minn., Michelle Seymour of Rice Lake, David and Mary Dombrock of Owatonna, Minn., William and Mary Dombrock of Germantown, Steve and Laura Dombrock of Waukesha, Richard and Candi Dombrock of Owatonna, Minn., Terry and Carla Dombrock of Burnsville, Minn., Linda Dombrock of Minneapolis, Minn., and Richard Johnson of Flint, Mich.; and many great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands; brothers and sisters, Helen Seymour, James Seymour, Lewis Seymour, Mary Friede, Ruth Burmester, Jessie Davis and Gene Seymour; sisters-in-law, Lucille McKenney, Myrtle Germanson and Genievie Johnson; and nephews, Robert Seymour, Larry Seymour, Artie Seymour, Neil Burmester and Allan Dombrock. A memorial service will be held at BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 312 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 9, 2007, with the Rev. Curtis Everson presiding. Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Reedsburg Educational Foundation, Merton E. and Blanche Seymour Fund, 501 K St., Reedsburg, WI 53959. Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation Centers 5203 Monona Drive (608) 221-5420 www.gundersonfh.com