Knuttel, Arend-Jan

Arend-Jan Knuttel (Artie) passed away from COVID on March 16, 2023. He was predeceased by his parents Adrian and Catherine Knuttel. He is survived by his brother, Hajo Knuttel, and his sister, Anna Knuttel, sister-in-law Leigh Knuttel, and brother-inlaw, David Rhodes. He was Uncle to Niko, Lucas, and Arielle Knuttel, and Theo, Annelies, and Derek Rhodes. He was Grand Uncle to several grand nephews and grand-niece. He had many Didden cousins and Knuttel cousins in the Netherlands. Arend was born May 10, 1947 in Medan, Indonesia. He left Indonesia in 1955 and lived in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for a year with Knuttel relatives. In 1956 he moved to Connecticut, first to Windsor, then to Glastonbury, Suffield, East Windsor and Somers. He graduated from the Renbrook School in West Hartford, CT, the Hinckley School in Maine, and received a BS in Architectural Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Following his graduation, he returned to Connecticut and was employed at Knuttel Nursery, Inc. While at the nursery, Arend became acutely aware of the development pressure on farmland, open space, and wetlands. He became an ardent environmentalist and preservationist. Arend turned his beliefs into advocacy, serving on the East Windsor Conservation Commission, the CT Association of Conservation and Inland Wetland Commissions, the Scantic River Watershed Association, and the Farmland Preservation Committee. Arend participated in the Coalition for CT Archeology, as the preservation of cultural history and resources parallels land preservation. An accomplishment of which Arend was most proud was his work with the Northern CT Land Trust. Arend, George Grant and Albert Grant, in 1987, were the founders of the Four Town Land Trust, which became the NCLT. The land trust now encompasses approximately 2000 acres. Arend was a skilled artist. He would sketch incessantly, producing architectural drawings, renderings, and drawings of historic ships. He was a lover of history, with particular interest in military and maritime history. Arend was very proud of his family name and heritage. Arend will be greatly missed by his friends at Woodcrest Elderly Housing. He was a helpful and friendly resident, sharing stories, and offering help to all. The family wants to express our appreciation to the wonderful ICU staff at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford, CT and Mercy Hospital in Springfield, MA, for their compassionate care. A memorial service will be held on May 13, 2023 at 2PM in the Foundation Room at the Somers Congregational Church, 599 Main Street, Somers CT. New England Funeral & Cremation Center, LLC, 25 Mill Street, Springfield, MA has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit Arend's memorial page at www.nefcc.net for expressions of sympathy. Donations in Arend's name may be made to the Northern Connecticut Land Trust, P.O. Box 324, Somers, CT 06071.

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