[Oe List ...] Kjell Knutsen: 1928 - 2016.

[John Epps via OE]

Thanks Andrew. Ann and I join you and the family in celebrating Kjell's
completed life. We knew him briefly in Chicago and were impressed then with
his depth and commitment. We lived in Malaysia for more than 20 years and
while our time there did not overlap in  KL, we were grateful for the
pioneering work he and others did. I think our last contact was when P.D.
James and I were en route from KL to Bubun in Indonesia and had an
overnight in Penang. Kjell graciously put us up at St. Nicholas School for
the Blind and showed us around. His work there was a terrific service.
Please communicate our appreciation of his life and work to the family.

John Epps
Denver

On Fri, Feb 17, 2017 at 6:49 AM, Andrew Knutsen via OE <
oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:

> Hi,
>
>
> Knutsen family would like to share this celebration with the OE mailing
> list members. We are gathering this weekend in Boise, ID for two events to
> celebrate Kjell’s life. On Saturday, we will have a family memorial event,
> followed by a Sunday memorial service with Hillview Methodist Church. Kjell
> was part of the congregation and served as a visiting minister.
>
>
> Kjell is survived by his wife, Debbie Cheong, five sons - Lester, Andrew,
> Bernhard, Reinard, Svend. Kjell is survived by two siblings - Roger,
> younger brother living in Seattle and and Britt, older sister living in
> Oslo. There are six grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
>
>
> Kjell’s celebrated his 88th birthday last year. We have a photo of him
> cradling his youngest grandson, Finely Parks Knutsen, born a few months
> earlier to Svend and Amanda.
>
>
> Here is my very brief summary of some chapter’s in Kjell life:
>
>
> Earliest chapters include growing up in Norway and living under German
> occupation during WW2. When he left Norway after WW2, he left to become an
> ordained minister and missionary, attending Garret Biblical Institute in
> Evanston, Illinois. Kjell met and married Margynell Bynum during this time.
> He was ordained in 1950, and was posted to Malaya as a Methodist
> missionary. During this time (1950 - 1987), Kjell and family served
> congregations in Taiping, Kuantan, Raub, Klang, and Seremban. All five sons
> were born in Malaysia. Our family attended the 1967 summer program in
> Chicago, interning in the Order while Kjell studied for his PhD. Kjell was
> part of the team that set up the Religious House in Petaling Jaya in 1968.
> He was part of teams that taught RS-1 courses, ITI’s, Academies and two
> early Human Develop Projects. Kjell married Debbie Cheong in 1977. Svend
> was born in 1982. His last position in Malaysia was Director of St.
> Nicholas School for the Blind in Penang. In 1988, Kjell began his Idaho
> chapter, serving a congregation in Emmett, followed by part time position
> with the Hillview Methodist Church in Boise. Kjell retired in 2009,
> beginning his golden years. Debbie is a public school teacher in Boise,
> Svend is married and raising a family with Amanda.
>
>
> Our family appreciates your emails and prayers. I will be collecting your
> emails and sharing them in printed and email formats with our family this
> weekend.
>
>
>
> Peace,
>
>
> Andrew
>
> ack2.trailhiker at gmail.com
>
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