Shirley were both active with the Nordic Fest committee. The Nordic Fest Troll Walk at Ice Cave was originated by George during the early years of the Nordic Fest, and featured an emphasis on geology, which George taught at Luther in addition to chemistry. George’s interest in geology also resulted in his hosting several spelunkers who stayed in his basement occasionally as they discovered and explored the Coldwater Cave.

George also gained some notoriety as an early canoeist on the Upper Iowa River who advocated efforts to protect the Upper Iowa as a scenic river.

Shirley Lembke was born 25 Apr 1919 in Fergus Falls, MN, the daughter of William Charles Lembke and Isabelle (Styve) Lembke. Isabelle's parents had immigrated from Voss and Vik, Norway, and William's parents had immigrated from Mecklenburg, Germany, near Denmark.

Shirley’s father worked at various times in his life as a farmer, dry goods salesman, and taxi driver. Fie and his wife also established and tended a home for children without parents for a number of years. Shirley and her brother and three sisters spent the years of the Great Depression in St. Paul, MN. Shirley became a Registered Nurse after studying in Chicago, where she met George through an older couple who attended the same church as they.

While living in Decorah, Shirley’s activities in the community included efforts to establish a Decorah recreation program, now known as the Decorah Parks and Recreation Dept, and to establish the Decorah Depot Clothing Outlet. She also helped to organize efforts to establish the Northeast Iowa Mental Health Center. Shirley worked at various times as a nurse at the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital, at the Luther College Health Service, and at the Winneshiek County Home, and was active at Good Shepherd Church, directing the youth choir and later the adult choir. She also played cello in the Luther College orchestra in its early years, and played in the Messiah annually.

George and Shirley Knudson died together in a plane crash near Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, 11 Jul 1977 when a small plane in which they were passengers went down in stormy weather. They are buried at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Cemetery.

Knutson, Christian and Della (Gunderson)

(Katy Bradley)

Della Clara (Gunderson) Knutson was born 28 Nov 1882 in Ossian, IA. She was the fourth child of Gunder and Berthe Gunderson. She obtained her education by attending the Ossian Public Schools and Valders Business College at Decorah, IA.

On 19 Oct 1914 she was married to Christian B. Knutson of Pierpoint, SD. The wedding took place in Minneapolis, MN. Mr. Knutson died 11 Feb 1925 after only eleven years of marriage. They had no children. Mr. and Mrs. Knutson resided in Dubuque, Chicago, Minneapolis and South Dakota. After Christian’s death in 1925, Della returned to Ossian, wnere she lived until her final illness in 1961.

 

Della Gunderson Knutson

Della was a member of the Ossian Lutheran Church, and a charter member of the Lutheran Ladies Aid. Her hobbies revolved around her extended family and close friends. Della always had a great love for children, and those nieces and nephews and their children still think of her with many fond memories.

Kobriger, George and Elsie (McMartin)

(George Kobriger)

George John Kobriger, a son of Phillip and Eva (Dollard) Kobriger was born 16 Oct 1867. On 19 Apr 1899 he married Elsie McMartin. She was born 7 Oct 1876, the daughter of Daniel and Julia (Brush) McMartin. They lived in the village of Castalia, IA where George was a carpenter. Elsie was a seamstress. She helped with the family income by sewing for other people and making all the clothes for her own family. After renting a home for many years, George built a spacious new home in Castalia in the year 1916. The house still stands directly across the street from the Lutheran Church. There were seven children in the family:

Florence Mae (4 Sep 1901-11 Aug 1962) married Nels Nelson 28 Mar 1923. They lived in Decorah. They were the parents of five children: Carolyn, Norma, Charles, Alice and David.

Julia Eva (25 Jan 1904-2 Nov 1985) married William Wedo 30 Apr 1927. They farmed near Clermont, IA. They were the parents of five children. One son Wilbur was stillborn. Their four daughters were: twins, Irene and Eileen, Marilyn and Elsie.

Marjorie Eleanor (2 Feb 1906-9 Apr 1986) married Elmer Hager 25 Jan 1928. They were the parents of three sons: Robert, Gerald and Ronaldo John.

Georgia lone (25 Nov 1909-31 Oct 1988) married Clarence Hoopman 27 Jun 1931. They were the parents