Velma M. (Ross) Knudsen

Velma Knudsen, 101, of Akron, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, September 24, 2026, 3 days shy of her 102nd birthday, at UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa.

Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Akron. Visitation with the family present will be from noon until service time on Wednesday at the funeral home. Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

Velma M. Ross, the daughter of Guy and Laura (Carmen) Ross, was born on September 27, 1924, in Akron, Iowa. She attended school in Akron and graduated from Akron High School in 1943.

She was united in marriage to Hans Knudsen on December 27, 1945, in Dakota City, Nebraska. The couple farmed near Westfield and Akron before retiring to Akron in 1975. Velma was a homemaker for her family. Hans passed away on November 7, 1979. In the early 90’s, Velma began answering the phone for Schroeder Funeral Home in Akron. She did that for over 15 years. For several years, she made her home in the Ridgewood Apartments in Akron before moving to the Akron Care Center.

Velma enjoyed working in her yard and tending to her flowers and vegetable garden. She also enjoyed the dogs that she had over the years and taking drives through the countryside. In 2025, she was honored with being the parade marshal for the All-Class Reunion Parade as being the oldest living graduate from Akron.

Survivors include her daughters, Sandra Kimpson from Sioux City, IA, and Jolene Knudsen from Burke, SD; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Hans Knudsen; a grandson, Heath; and her siblings: Melvin ‘Bud’ Ross, Guy ‘Buster’ Ross Jr, and Marlys Vrana.