Dr. Alvin Knudsen

Biography

Dr. Alvin Bruce Knudsen was called home to his heavenly parents on October 30th, 2014. Dr. K. died at home with his sweetheart by his side.
He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Alvin August Knudsen and Josephine Peck Gold on February 16th, 1937. He was the oldest of four children. Survived by his eternal companion of 54 years Ardis; and sisters, Mary Jo (Dale) Harrell, Marge (Delmar) Barth, his Sister-in-Law, Nancy Knudsen and Mother-in-Law Edna M. Smith. His children are Lisa Hale (Brent), Curtis Knudsen (Chris), Bryce Knudsen (Lori), Kira Thygerson (Kent), Karl Knudsen (Marlyn), and Ryan Knudsen (Merilee), 13 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by a daughter, Kana Jean, his parents, and brother, Douglas C. Knudsen.
Bruce attended schools in Salt Lake City and Twin Falls, Idaho and graduated from East High School in Salt Lake City. He had begun his secondary education at the University of Utah when he met Ardis Jean Morrison. Bruce served an L.D.S. mission to Denmark and upon his return married Ardis on February 26th, 1960 in the Salt Lake Temple.
Bruce continued his studies at the U of U, earning 3 degrees, while serving in the Naval Reserve as a medical corpsman. He also worked as a Public Health Service Consultant for the National Park Service, in Zion, Bryce Canyon and the Southern Utah State Parks as well as The Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. Bruce did his Post-Doctoral work at U.C.L.A. as a Research Scientist/Medical Entomologist in the field of Tropical Medicine. He began his full-time career working for Pan American Health Organization (P.A.H.O.), in the Caribbean and World Health Organization (W.H.O.) specializing in the field of vector-borne disease. This allowed him and his growing family to live in several places around the globe including Malaysia, Nigeria, Trinidad, Barbados, and Geneva, Switzerland. He retired from the W. H. O. in 1997 and returned to Utah where he taught 9th Grade Earth Systems Science at Mueller Park Jr. High School in Bountiful; his students loved Dr. K. and he loved them.
A lifelong and dedicated member of the LDS church, Bruce served in many capacities including the original District President in Nigeria, West Africa, Branch President, and other leadership and teaching positions. He also served a Humanitarian Mission in Ghana and Nigeria with Ardis from 2006-2008.
An avid outdoorsman, fisherman and gardener, Bruce was also a dedicated runner who was proud of his remarkable feat of running a “Magellan”-the cumulative distance equal to the circumference of the earth. Because of his science background, he documented his life by keeping a journal-at the time of his death, he was writing in volume 111.
He loved his family deeply, and will be missed tremendously. Ardis and the family cherish the many fond memories produced from the lifetime of adventures that Bruce led them through.
The family would like to thank Independence Home Health and Envision Hospice, who provided comfort and care during his last days.
A viewing will be held from 6 – 8 p.m., Tuesday, November 4th, 2014, at the Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main Street, and also from 9:45 – 10:45 a.m., Wednesday, November 5th, 2014, at the Bountiful Hills Ward building, 1190 East Bountiful Hills Drive, Bountiful, Utah. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m.

Funeral Service

Wednesday November 5, 2014, 11:00 at Bountiful Hills Ward
Click for Map and Directions

Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main Street, and also from 9:45 – 10:45 a.m., Wednesday, November 5th, 2014, at the Bountiful Hills Ward building, 1190 East Bountiful Hills Drive, Bountiful, Utah. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m.