Obituary of Kermit Bernt Knudson Jr.

Kermit Bernt Knudson, Jr. Re-Engineerer of Everything Kermit Jr. was born in Vallejo on June 6, 1937 to Kermit Knudson, Sr. and Nellie (Coffey) Knudson and passed on March 28, 2025 in Carmichael. Kermit, Jr. is survived by his brother, Jay (Linda); daughter, Kandace (Sherry); numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Named after his father, Kermit Jr. often needed to explain that his first name was historically associated with the Roosevelts, not the puppet frog of Muppets fame. However, that didn’t stop him from appreciating the association with the beloved Kermit the Frog. Kermit Jr. grew up in Vallejo and served in the Air Force Reserve as an aircraft electrician. He spent his career as a long-distance telephone network engineer for AT&T, starting in Vallejo and then moving with wife, Frances (Amarant), and daughter, Kandace, when transferred to new positions in Tahoe, Susanville, and Lakeport. After retiring in 1994, Kermit had more free time to enjoy his many hobbies, especially anything relating to classic cars, motorcycles, and the local racing scene. For many years, he traveled with an NCRA officiating team, led by Nadine and Bob Strauss. Naturally adept at problem-solving and machinery of all kinds, Kermit ran an engine-balancing business and fixed anything and everything that was in any kind of disrepair. Modifications were his specialty, tweaking existing devices or adapting new designs to improve whatever he deemed as improvable. Throughout his life, he owned and worked on many vehicles; from a dump truck to scooters to motorhomes, Kermit left a legacy of well-loved cars, trailers, and other wheeled devices, including a souped-up electric red wagon he designed, built, and drove in local parades. Known for his dry, sarcastic sense of humor, Kermit’s love language was teasing, receiving or dishing it out. In his last weeks, he joked whenever he could, replying quietly to a nurse who apologized to him for the discomfort she inadvertently caused from a bandage change, “no you’re not.” Kermit’s lifelong passions were an eclectic range of hobbies and intellectual pursuits, including music, pinochle, California geography, WWII history, his toy yo-yos, photography and video, movies, car design, electronics, animals, and guns (but not killing). Combining many interests in one trip, he once rode his 3-wheel scooter to every Japanese internment camp on the west coast, taking back roads and documenting the journey with photographs and audio. Friends and family can undoubtedly recall listening for many hours to Kermit freely sharing such passions. He enjoyed and often talked about his many, many hunting trips with family in early life and friends in later life. Generous with his time and commitment to civic life, he participated in many clubs and organizations, often gravitating to leadership positions, including: president of the Early Lake Lions Club, president of the Clear Lake Road Riders motorcycle club, and president of the NCRA. Always interested in improving his community, he also served for nearly 10 years on the Lakeport Traffic Safety Advisory Committee. A resident of Lakeport for nearly 5 decades, Kermit was a regular fan of local high school sports and honored to be part of many local families: the Peters, Leuzingers, Santanas, and Strausses. His best friends, Bill and John, already miss him dearly, as do family, neighbors, and others who have known him. Although Kermit loved his independence, he appreciated his caregivers and “pit crew” who helped him in his last years, especially Heather and Darin in Lakeport and the loving folks at Atria in Carmichael. A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, May 10, 2025 at the Lake County Fairgrounds Little Theater at 10:00 AM. Vist kandaceknudson.com for more information.