Gunther H. "Bud" Knoedler

Gunther H. (Bud) Knoedler went to be with his Lord on Nov. 11, 2026. He was the father of three, grandfather to six and great-grandfather to ten. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, and son, James. He was married to Betty for 63 years when she died in 2013.

Bud was born in 1929 in Detroit, Michigan, the only child of Herman and Paula Knoedler, recent immigrants to the United States. The family returned to Germany, because of the Great Depression, when Bud was 1 year old. The family lived there until just before the start of WW II, when they returned to Detroit. He graduated from Wheaton College (Illinois) in 1951, attended Northwestern University, where he earned a Masters degree, and did further graduate work at Harvard School of Business. He married his college sweetheart, Betty Burtness, and together they raised three children, Ruthie, Jim and Rick.

After college, during the Korean conflict, Bud served in the US Army, where he was given a direct commission as an officer in the Adjutant General’s Corps. After returning to the Chicago area, he began his business career in the insurance industry, then began a 38 year term in the banking field. He retired as Chief Operating Officer, and member of the Board, of his bank. His business career included service on the Boards of several banking industry trade and civic organizations, including the American Heart Association, the Chicago Sunday Evening Club, where he was a regular host on the weekly PBS television broadcast, and the Spectrios Institute of Illinois. He also served on the Boards of The ServiceMaster Corporation and Tyndale House Publishers.

He had a special interest in Christian higher education where, after becoming President of The Wheaton College Alumni Association, he was elected to the Board of Trustees, where he served for 34 years, including 6 years as Chairman. The College named him as Alumnus of the Year for Distinguished Service to Alma Mater. His legacy at the college included a number of student scholarships and fellowships, as well as an endowed Chair of Theology in the Graduate School.

Bud had wide interests, skills and passions. He was a church organist, enjoyed classical music, dabbled in painting and cartooning, relished travel and was a long term member of the College Church in Wheaton. He was an active member of the Wheaton Lions Club. Following retirement, he became skilled at bird carving, a hobby which gave him much joy for over 25 years.

Bud could be counted on for a kind word and generosity. He was a quiet, thoughtful man who added to the life of every party. Most of all, he loved his family, and sought to be a faithful follower of his Lord, Jesus Christ.

A memorial service will be held at College Church in Wheaton, 332 E. Seminary Ave., Wheaton, Illinois 60187, on Thursday, December 3, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. All who loved him, or even liked him a lot, are invited to greet the family. The price of entry is a good “Bud Story”. Happy tears are not required… but encouraged. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials in his name be directed to Wheaton College, Student Scholarship Fund, 501 College Ave., Wheaton, Illinois 60187 or College Church.