Otto O. Knaak

Obituary

Otto Orville Knaak was born on February 28, 1938, at the family home in Grafton Township, Sibley County, Minnesota. He was the son of Otto and Dora (Borman) Knaak. Otto was baptized as an infant and confirmed in his faith as a youth in 1952, both at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stewart, Minnesota. He attended school in Stewart.

Otto began his eight week long basic training with the United States Army on February 14, 1962, at Fort Carson, Colorado. On April 26, 1962, he attended culinary training for eight weeks at Fort Ord, California. According to Otto, “the only thing you learn how to do is dirty a whole bunch of pots.” After completing training on June 19, 1962, Otto was transferred to Fort Gordon, Georgia. Shortly after his transfer, he was assigned to the 167th Signal Co. On July 14, 1962, he received a government air transfer to Ubon, Thailand, about 90 miles north of Bangkok. Otto worked at a Radio Relay Site by the Mekong River for 13 months. He returned to the United States in August 1963. Otto was transferred to Fort Meade, Maryland, until his honorable discharge on February 13, 1964.

On October 1, 1988, Otto was united in marriage to Judith “Judy” (Saunders) Pessek at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stewart. He was blessed with a son, Andrew, and Judy’s children, James, Thomas, and Bryan. Otto and Judy resided in Grafton Township, rural Stewart. They shared 36 years of marriage.

Otto was a life-long farmer in rural Stewart and was also employed at McDonald’s in Hutchinson and the Farmers Coop Elevator Stewart Division (also known as South Central Grain and Energy, and Central Regional Cooperative “CRC”). He enjoyed delivering the anhydrous tanks to the area farmers and visiting with them. Otto retired in 2018. He was a life-ling member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stewart, serving as a Sunday School teacher and on the church council for years. Otto was also a member of DeGree Fleisch American Legion Post 125 in Stewart.

Otto enjoyed doing yard work, watching television, fishing, and devoting time to the farm. He also enjoyed bowling, pinochle, going to farm auctions and antique equipment shows, and in later years watching his children work on their various projects on the farm. Otto especially cherished time spent with his family, grandchildren and friends.

Otto passed away on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Hutchinson Health, at the age of 87 years.

Blessed be his memory.

Otto is survived by his:
Wife, Judith Knaak of rural Stewart, MN;
Children, Andrew Knaak and his girlfriend, Ashley Weller of Stewart, MN,
James Pessek, Jr. of Stewart, MN,
Thomas Robertson of Stewart, MN;
Grandchildren, Ashleigh Robertson and her fiancée, Vaughn Johnson, Bryanna Bach and her husband, Ryan, Zachary Robertson;
Great-grandson, Aiden Thomas Bach
Brothers, Alvin Knaak and his wife, Irene of Stewart, MN,
Elroy Knaak and his wife, Betty of Stewart, MN;
Many other relatives and friends.

Otto is preceded in death by his Parents, Otto and Dora Knaak; Sister, LaVerna Horsch and her husband, Jerome; Step-son, Bryan Robertson; Great-grandson, Bryan Levi Bach; Nephew, Alan Horsch.