Charlotte Knaak

Charlotte Ann Knaak (nee Kelsey), 84, of Saint James, Minnesota, died August 22, 2026, at her home.

A Celebration of Life and graveside service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Saint James. Online Condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Charlotte was born on January 3, 1942. She was the middle child of 10 Siblings. She grew up on a seed corn farm in the Madelia, Minnesota area. After graduating from high school, Charlotte married her lifetime husband, Jerold Knaak and moved to their farm in Watonwan County.

Charlotte loved farm life, especially harvest time. She enjoyed assisting in her children’s 4-H, FFA, and church youth events. She made many lifelong friendships through the United Methodist Church of Saint James and taught Sunday School for 50 years.

Other lifetime hobbies include gardening and growing flowers, achieving master gardener level. She showed crops at the county and state fairs and won several state fair grand champion ribbons in the ten-ear samples, field corn, soybeans and oats. She made many quilts, giving them to friends and family, providing a lasting legacy. She also worked at Hardees and the Saint James Public Schools as a paraprofessional, where she became “mom” to many children.

Charlotte is survived by her children, Timothy Knaak, Jay (Nancy) Knaak, and Alyce (Jon) Knaak-Fraley; 8 grandchildren; and 4 great grandchildren.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her husband, Jerold; parents, Dale and Fern Kelsey; sisters, Donna Jean, Shirley Gerdes, and Carole Kruger; and brother, Dale Kelsey, Jr.; and grandson, Nathan Knaak.