Kenneth "Ken" V. Gutknecht, Jr.

Kenneth V. Gutknecht Jr., age 73, of Alexandria, formerly of Bemidji, died after a courageous battle with cancer Tuesday, April 11, 2023, surrounded by family at his home at Arabella Manor.

A celebration of life service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria with Larry Gutknecht and Dan Bennett presiding. Full military honors will be accorded by the Minnesota Honor Guard, American Legion Post #87, Veteran of Foreign Wars Post #936, Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter #235, and the Marine Corps League Detachment #1409. Kenneth requests that everyone dress casually and wear apparel of their favorite sports team.

Visitation will be held from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the service.

Private family interment will take place at Spring Park Cemetery, Sandstone.

Kenneth Virgil Jr. was born on December 10, 1949, to Kenneth Sr. and Norma (Heichel) Gutknecht in Cedar Falls, Iowa. His family moved to Sandstone, Minnesota where he graduated from high school, lettering in basketball. Kenneth continued his education at St. Cloud Vocational Technical School for one year. Kenneth enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1969 and served his country until 1973; stationed at the Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), in San Antonio, Texas, Vandenberg AFB, California, and the Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, Alaska.  He was united in marriage to Vickie Troolin on May 5, 1971, in Sandstone. After temporarily residing in Baxter and Pierz, the couple eventually settled in Bemidji. Kenneth was a plumber by trade, working as a well driller and pump installer, Director of Building and Grounds for the Little Falls School District, and the Director of Environmental Services for 34 years at Eldercare of Minnesota in Bemidji.  He was an avid sports fan and an enthusiastic follower of high school and college sports. He discovered his love for golf at the age of 40 and went on to achieve an impressive record of 10 holes in one during his golfing career. Kenneth's passion for sports extended to supporting Bemidji State University Athletics, where he was a devoted fan and donor.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Wayne Gutknecht.

Kenneth is survived by his wife of 51 years, Vickie; daughter, Kari (Kirk) Juetten of Glenwood; three brothers, Larry (Mary) Gutknecht, Kevin (Jane) Gutknecht, and Stafford (Gbai) Gutknecht; three sisters, Diane (Albert) Meader, Cheri Gutknecht, and Bonnie (Thurston) Miller; two grandchildren, Jacob and Sarah Juetten; along with many nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers are Tim Bellew, Dan Bennett, Marvin Burmeister, Chelsea Stoltenberg, Doug Gish, Sam Klisch, Tommy Vohnoutka, Charlie Williams, and from Bemidji, Bob Young.

Memorials preferred to the Bemidji State University Women’s Basketball Scholarship Fund.