Gary H. Knutson

A Man of Distinction

In Memory of Gary Knutson

Part 1

Gary H. Knutson, passed away Thursday May 2 2024, at age 82 in St. Paul Minnesota, following complications from surgery.

Gary entered this world on August 23rd, 1941 in Caledonia, MN to Gilbert and Cora (Jameson) Knutson.

Gary enlisted and served in the United States Army, in the 319th Security Battalion, and upon discharge he moved to Minneapolis, MN. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in journalism. For the next decade, he worked at various local ad agencies, and was a founding partner of a production house working for Midwest agencies until the company was later dissolved.

His career spanned 50 years, in later years becoming the creative director and partner of one of the country’s best small agencies.

Gary was preceded in his death by his parents, Gilbert and Cora, his first wife, Terrie Knutson, brothers Curtis and Wallace Knutson, and sisters Sybil Fee and Dolores Sheehan.

Gary is survived by his niece, Kathy Fee, Nephews Jeff Fee, Dennis Fee and Scott Sheehan.

To honor Gary’s wish, he is resting next to Terrie Knutson at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN.

Part 2

That’s the boilerplate version of Gary’s life and death. But, as we all know, there was nothing boilerplate about Gary.

Gary was an American original.

Wicked smart. The Army figured that out and sent him to Germany to spy on the bad guys, monitoring the ravings of the eastern bloc – it wasn’t one Germany then. He probably helped us win the cold war.

Avuncular. He liked to help people, particularly those who aspired to be better, whether it was art direction, wordsmithing or just being better in general. His ability to spot and nurture young talent (many of whom went on to become some of the biggest creative stars in advertising) was second to none. He was the very definition of a mentor.

Viking. He was of Nordic blood, carried in straight line DNA a few centuries later to Minnesota farmland. He was physically big and sported an impressive beard. Hard not to imagine him slurping down mead dressed in what passed for a Norse dandy in the day.

Curious. His world, our world was endlessly entertaining and fascinating. He was a consumer of books, of media, of culture. And he was able to store it away in the vast computer that was his brain. AI would have nothing on Gary.

Founder. He was in the right place at the right time with the right skills, talent and ambition to be one of the authors of the creative renaissance in Minneapolis. A movement that inspired and influenced the country and frankly the world. It was a time of brilliance and creativity. There may have been a better writer than Gary, but not likely or provable.

Podcaster. Not really, but he had the mind of one long before it became a thing. For his circle who were lucky enough to be on the receiving end of his episodic and epic rants, you couldn’t wait for the next one. The GK sign off is a thing of legend.

Lover. Not just of people, but of anything and everything. Pop culture. Politics. Music. Art. Tech and gadgets. Cars. Wherever he detected brilliance, it needed to be celebrated and then shared and spread as widely as possible.

Conservative. With a heart. To Gary, it was simple. Socialism, Marxism, lazy left wing emotional claptrap made no sense. And it led nowhere. He appreciated the opportunities his country gave him and encouraged others to see the light.

Influencer. (Before it got a bad name) He chose advertising because he wanted to guide and inspire folks with Gary logic and Gary goodwill. Give me a typewriter and a good art director and we’ll make the world a tad bit better and a whole lot smarter.

Friend. He had many. He could have had so many more. Those who knew him well, reveled in the time he shared with them. Most important, what he shared.

They don’t make them like Gary anymore. The world is smaller, less smart, less rich without him.

The best way to honor him, then, is to try wake up every morning, and say “ I’m going to try and be a little more like GK today.”