Jerald "Wes" W. Knauss

Jerald Wesley "Wes" Knauss, age 90, of Carroll, IA, passed away on Oct. 20, 2020 at Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, October 26, 2020 at the First United Methodist Church in Carroll with Rev. Terry Plocher officiating. There will be a Masonic Memorial Service at the conclusion of the funeral service. Casket bearers will be Brian Knauss, Corey Knauss, Tony Knauss, Tyler Wittrock, Allison Kimle and Cole Wittrock. Burial will be in the Carroll City Cemetery with military honors by the Carroll American Legion and the Iowa National Guard. Visitation will be held at the First United Methodist Church for one hour prior to the service on Monday. Those in attendance at the services are asked to abide by Covid-19 social distancing guidelines and facemasks are required. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com Wes was born on August 21, 1930, in Mondamon, Iowa, and he was the son of Lee Dewey and Alice (Cowan) Knauss. His family moved to Council Bluffs in 1936 and he graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1948. As a boy he had two paper routes for the Omaha World Herald. Following high school he worked for Flynn Electric Co. He married LaVonne Crane on October 26, 1950 at First Christian Church in Council Bluffs by Rev. Charles Davis. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951 and served until 1953 during the Korean Conflict. Following his military service the couple lived in Council Bluffs where he worked for Interstate Electric. Wes and LaVonne moved to Carroll in 1960 where he opened and managed a branch office for Interstate Electric. In 1964 he opened his own company, Builders Specialty Co. and operated it until 1998 when he retired. Wes served on the Carroll City Council from 1974-1982. During the time when the Carroll Recreation Center and Farner Government Building were built. Also, during that time the Council is credited for up-grading the city-management form of government by employment of a professional city manager; increasing the staffing and qualifications of Police Department; increasing the staffing and up-graded equipment of the Fire Department; reorganizing and expanding the Parks and Recreation Dept. employed a professional City Engineer. Some projects completed during that time were; improvement of golf course and acquiring additional land for expansion; acquiring additional land for Little League and softball parks; locating of Pella Corporation to Carroll; widening Highway 30 through downtown area; installing new down town street lighting; urban renewal; City Hall and Recreation Center. Wes was a member of the United Methodist Church in Carroll and the Signet Masonic Lodge. He was also a Shriner and member of the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine Mosque. He was a former member of the Carroll Kiwanis and Moose Lodge. Wes enjoyed playing solitaire, socializing with his many good friends and spending time with his family. Wes is survived by his wife Lavonne of Carroll; and four children: Jerry Knauss of Carroll; Randy Knauss and his wife Joyce (Loehr) of Madison Lake, Mn; Ron Knauss of Carroll and Amy Wittrock and her husband Keith of Garden City, Mn; six grandchildren: Brian Knauss (Cameron Klutz) of Rochester Mn; Corey Knauss (Nicole) of Pine Island, Mn,; Tony Knauss (Stevie) of Mapleton, Mn,; Tyler Wittrock (Kellie) of Oak Dale, Mn,; Allison Kimle (Nathan) of Arnold Park, Ia; and Cole Wittrock of Garden City, Mn. Four great grandchildren: T, J.; Jaxen; Claire and Katelyn; a brother Duane Knauss (Joyce) of Carroll; a brother-in-law Harold Hibbs of San Antonio, TX; and several nieces and nephews. Wes was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter Emily; a sister Ella Mae Hibbs; brother-in-law & sister-in-law, Norman & Janet Crane of Council Bluffs; Don Crane of Lincoln.