Donald Knudsen Obituary Donald M. Knudsen, "Donny K" passed away at the age of 87 on May 6, 2021. He has gone to a place where he can sail, iceboat, and tinker with classic cars forever. Don was born in Duluth, MN, in October 1933 to Luther and Margaret Knudsen. He received his education in Duluth at Endion, East Jr, Central and UMD. In 1957 he went to Portsmouth, VA to serve with the Naval Reserve. While there he met and married Jane Overacre. In 1992, Don married Sonja Larsson Barth. They enjoyed many years sailing Lake Minnetonka and Lake Superior on their boat Genesis. During the 60s Don received an invitation to join Dr's F. Wuest and K. Sayther's ophthalmology clinic where he fitted contact lenses for thirty-two years before retiring from Northwest Eye Clinic. During that period, he held leadership roles in the Minnesota Contact Lens Society and the Contact Lens Society of America. He taught the art and science of fitting traumatic eye injuries with contact lenses at several universities in the US and Canada. Dons sailing passion started on Pike Lake outside of Duluth at the age of 8. He sailed the rest of his life at Wayzata Yacht Club (30 years) and Duluth Yacht Club (22 years) in addition to iceboating on Lake Minnetonka. In retirement he became interested in the art of turning a lump of clay into a beautiful piece of pottery. He honed his skills at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts, producing an array of bowls and platters. In 2014 Don was diagnosed with prostate cancer which had metastasized to his bones. Sadly, sailing on soft and hard water had to come to an end. Don then sold his beloved C & C 35 Genesis and his Nite iceboat Blue Max. He is survived by his, present wife Sonja, his children Eva (Stan Spindler), Evan (Cindy Campbell), Eric (Agnes), first wife Jane, stepchildren Brian Barth (Julia Nitzsche), Julia Barth, six grandchildren Karrie Nordstrom, Kallie Gill, Tyler St. Clair, Hannah Knudsen, Luke Knudsen and Dan Knudsen, and several great-grandchildren. The family will have a private service at Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata, MN, due to church safety requirements. Interment will be at Forrest Hills Cemetery, Duluth, MN. at a later date. Special thank you to North Memorial Health Cancer Center and Hospice Care for their kind and compassionate care of Don. The family prefers memorials to Can Do Canines (www.can-do-canines.org) or the Duluth-Superior Sailing Association (checks payable to DSSA).