Frederick Gordon "Fred" Knudson

Frederick Gordon “Fred” Knudson, 64, of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on March 5, 2026. Born in Des Moines on September 8, 1961, to William Knudson and Patricia (Griffin) Roark, Fred graduated from North High School and spent the next thirty years with the Chicago and North Western and Union Pacific Railroad, retiring as a locomotive engineer.

Fred found great joy in the simple pleasures of life. He cherished his loyal dog, Buster, and in his younger years loved spending time fishing and boating. Quiet and steady, he was known for his reliability and the quiet pride he took in his work and his family.

He is survived by his brothers, Thomas (Shelly) Knudson and John Knudson; his nephew, Josh (Trish) Knudson; his nieces, Bailey (Elliott) Sheriff and Aubrey Knudson (Billy See); his great-nieces, Norah and Sage Sheriff; and his stepdaughter, Olivia Meline (Matt Gardner). Fred was preceded in death by his father, William Knudson; his mother, Patricia (Griffin) Roark; and his former wife, Lynn Knudson.