Joseph E. Knowlen

Joseph E. Knowlen, 81, of Bismarck, ND, went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 22, 2018. A memorial service will be held on Monday, January 29 at 11:00 AM at Century Baptist Church, 205 Colt Ave, Bismarck, with Rev. Dave Gallagher officiating.  Burial will follow at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan.  Visitation will be 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Sunday, January 28, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck.  A prayer service will be held at 7:00 pm. Joe was born December 26, 1936, in Baldwin, ND.  He joined the Air Force in 1955 where he served as an Aircraft Electrical Repairman.  Upon discharge, he returned to North Dakota where he met and married his beloved wife, Ruth C. Hausauer of Bismarck on October 21, 1960.  Joe and Ruth made their home in Bismarck where they raised their three children, Kim, Scott and Mike.  He worked as an electrician for 16 years at Skeel's Electric and then Hulm Electric before starting his own electrical contracting business, RCI Electric in 1976.  Both of his sons worked for him during their high school years and beyond.  In the mid-80's Joe and Ruth relocated to Arizona, where he continued working as an electrician until 1991 when they moved back to Bismarck to be closer to family.  His whole life was centered around family. Besides his proficiency as an electrician, Joe honed many other skills over his years including automotive, carpentry, plumbing and welding.  Coupling his learned vocational traits and his generosity of time, Joe made himself the "go-to-guy" for many unselfish projects, big and small, for family and friends.  With this skill set he built his own sprint race car and raced locally for several years.  Ruth also raced in the annual powder puff race.  Joe liked motorized recreation, owning a Harley Davidson as a young man.  Later, the family all relished family-time snowmobiling.  He gave each of his children dirt bikes which they enjoyed to the fullest.  When he got older, he began watching NASCAR and was a huge Dale Earnhardt fan. The family's summers were spent camping, fishing and enjoying the outdoors, often with extended family and friends.  Joe loved hunting with his sons and many friends, and in later years, his grandchildren. Joe was a long-time Miami Dolphin fan and a new Eagles fan...mostly a Carson Wentz fan.  He was also a passionate Bismarck Demon Wrestling supporter.  Both of his sons and grandsons were wrestlers and his son, Scott, was the head wrestling coach at BHS for many years. Joe has 6 grandchildren which he loved dearly, Erik, Austin, Zac, Kael, Atlanta and Cody.  They were the focus of his later years.  He had a great relationship with each of them being their number 1 fan in all of their endeavors.  In typical fashion, Joe's time and efforts of helping each grandchildren’s car troubles was a frequent occurrence. Joe will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Ruth; his daughter, Kim; his son, Scott (Shelly); his son, Mike (Kerry); his 6 grandchildren, Erik, Austin, Zac, Kael, Atlanta (Taylor Hellman), and Cody; and numerous nieces, nephews and other wonderful family members and friends.