Carl F."Knute" Kresie

Carl Forrest "Knute" Kresie of Topeka was born December 9, 1920, a son of Fred and Bernice Kresie, on the family farm near Auburn, Kansas. He passed away 93 years later on January 16, 2014 at his Lexington Park residence in Topeka. Knute graduated from Auburn High school in 1938. He was a student- athlete at the University of Kansas (KU) and graduated in 1942 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business. While at KU, he was a varsity baseball player for three years, president of the KU Letterman s Club and president of his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon. Dr. Forrest C. Phog Allen, the KU varsity baseball coach in 1941 & 1942, honored Knute as the team captain and MVP during his senior year. Knute's baseball talent attracted an offer to pitch in the New York Yankees minor league organization that he declined because of his commitment to US Navy enlistment in 1942. He went through naval officer s training school and did two tours of duty as a patrol-torpedo (P.T.) boat skipper in the Southwest Pacific near the Solomon Islands, successfully completing his service with rank of Lieutenant. After his US Navy service, Knute returned to Kansas, began his career with Kansas Blue Cross Blue Shield in Topeka in August 1946 and met Mary Jane Harris. They were married August 15, 1948 and lived together in Shawnee County since then. Knute was a charter member and president of the Cosmopolitan Club of Topeka. In 1950 he led the Club to sponsor creation of the first Cosmo Baseball league for boys in Topeka wherein each player was provided the necessary equipment and a chance to play in every game. He later coached teams in the Pony Express baseball and Girls Fast Pitch softball leagues at Lake Shawnee. Knute was a vice-president at Blue Cross when he retired after 38 years of service. During the next 10 years he worked as a realtor with Coldwell Banker - Griffith & Blair and greatly enjoyed playing golf with friends. He was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years and served there as an Elder and on various committees. Knute was an excellent father and husband and with Mary Jane raised four children: Karl Knute Kresie (Sung-Un) of Palo Alto, CA; Jan Kresie Barger (Terry) of Auburn, KS; Sharon Kresie Schenewerk (Roger) of Douglas County, KS; Annette Kresie Evanson (Doug) of San Antonio, TX; and eight grand-children: Scott W. Kresie; John and Keelan Barger; Audrey Schenewerk Heaton, Grant and Leigh Schenewerk; Garrett and Ben Evanson. Knute was an enthusiastic supporter of KU athletic teams and member of the Topeka Jayhawk Club. Memorial contributions may be sent to the KU Endowment for Baseball, PO Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044-0928, or Trinity Presbyterian Church, 4746 SW 21st St, Topeka, KS 66604.