Walter Raymond "PK" Knudsen, 97, of Lake City, Florida, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 14, 2022.  He was the son of the late Walter Peter Knudsen and Clerce Ella Gregoire Knudsen.  He was born in Bronson, Iowa on April 5, 1924.  He is preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Lois Elaine Graham Knudsen in 2008, and one grandson, Erik Christian Knudsen in 2015.

He is survived by his children; Gregory (Judy) Knudsen, Lake City, FL, Erik (Marcia) Knudsen, Naples, FL, Christa (Ed) Foster, Lake City, FL and Sooni (John) Raymaker, Tallahassee, FL; grandchildren, Courtney (Eric) Foster, Kyle Knudsen, US Air Force, Keith Knudsen, Justin, Tiffany and Chelsea Brimer and Greg and Emma Raymaker; and 6 great-grandchildren.

After serving in the US Army during WWII, from 1943-1946, he homesteaded in Alaska before moving to Florida.  He and his wife were both pilots and met at a Civil Air Patrol meeting in Daytona Beach, FL before moving to Gainesville, FL to attend the University of Florida.  He graduated from UF with a Master's Degree in Forestry and was on the UF Faculty of the School of Forestry where he taught forest photogrammetry and conducted research in aerial photography.  In 1965 he moved his family to Lake City where he was the director of the Forest Ranger school at Lake City Community College until he retired.  He enjoyed a variety of hobbies through the years including making and repairing watches, making knives, photography, boating, fishing, hunting and square dancing.  He and his wife did a lot of traveling in their RV including trips to Mexico and Alaska.  PK was blessed to have had such a long healthy life.  No service is planned but we will have his annual oyster birthday party with family and friends.