Peter M. "Pete" Knutson

Peter M. “Pete” Knutson, 79, of Fond du Lac, died Monday, May 25, 2026, at Frontida Assisted Living, Adelaide Place in Fond du Lac. He was born in Appleton on December 10, 1946, to Elmer and Hazel (Martin) Knutson.

A 1965 graduate of Appleton West High School, Pete attended UW - Oshkosh before being drafted by the United States Army. He completed his basic training at Fort Hood, Texas in 1966, and served two tours of duty in Vietnam, stationed in Pleiku and Nha Trang. Pete was in country during the TET offensive of 1968, was awarded the Army’s Commendation Medal of “Meritorious service in the Republic of Vietnam during the period September 1967 to April 1969.” He was honorably discharged in May of 1969, having attained the rank (E-5) of Sergeant. On January 10, 1970, Pete married Nancy “Nan” Baker at Trinity Lutheran Church in Appleton.

Pete was a huge sports fan. In 1971, he began his career in the sporting goods industry. In 1990, Pete started his own Manufacturer’s Rep. Group for licensed products, retiring in 2014. He loved spending time outdoors whenever possible, especially up north in Sayner, Wisc. He enjoyed fishing anytime he could, gardening, long pontoon rides on Lake Eau Claire and hosting his famous fish fry’s.

Pete adored his grandchildren; whether attending Cooper’s cello concerts, watching Carson’s hockey and baseball games, or watching Paige dance.

Survivors include his wife, Nan; son, Brad Knutson (fiancée, Jennifer White) of Olympia, Wash.; and daughter, Amy (Jeff) Gunderson of Wisconsin Rapids; grandchildren, Cooper Knutson of San Francisco, Calif., as well as Carson and Paige Gunderson, both of Wisconsin Rapids. Pete is further survived by a brother-in-law, Dennis Mertens of Oshkosh; four sisters-in-law, Susan (Fred) Kampo of Neenah, Libby (Larry) Senderhauf of Scottsdale, Ariz., Laura (David) Algrem of Wautoma, and Kathy (Doug) Holicky of Gilbert, Ariz.; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his three sisters, Dorothy (Mel) Thorp, Lois (Jim) Witzke, and Karen Mertens.

Memorials may be directed to The American Parkinson Disease Association, apdaparkinson.org or your local county’s veterans service office (cvso).

Per Pete’s wishes, there will be no visitation or service. Cremation has taken place. A private family burial will take place at a later date.

The family would like to thank the staff at Adelaide Place for Pete’s care over the past few months.

Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com