Col. Joseph “Knute” Nevins was born on Aug. 15, 1931 in Dodge City Ks. He went to be with his Heavenly Father on February 21, 2019. He was 87 years old. He grew up in Dodge City and graduated from Dodge City High school in 1950. He married Geraldine Allphin, the mother of 6 of his children, and moved to Manhattan KS to attend college at Kansas State University.  It was there that he started his military career as part of the ROTC program. After college graduation, he joined the United States Airforce in September of 1955 and became a pilot. He served our country for 30 years and never lost his passion for the United States of America.  He served three tours in NATO for a total of 9 years in Europe. He commanded a Command and Control Unit in NATO and flew RF-4C aircraft for 3 years there. He flew reconnaissance missions with the 38^th Tactical Recon Squadron locating troops and SAM missile sites. He served one year flying RF-4C aircraft in the Vietnam War. In 1974 he married Gerhild Becker, whom he met in Germany. They had one son. Throughout his 30 years in the USAF he was stationed all around the world and lastly in Texas, at Austin’s Bergstrom AFB where he retired with the rank of a Full Colonel, in Sept 1985.

After the death of his wife, Gerhild, he met his companion Patricia Hruby of 35 years. They followed their dreams in his retirement, where Knute and Pat moved to League City, TX. There he bought his 43’ Slocum sailboat called the Nil Desperandum. He transitioned his passion for navigation and journeys from the sky to the sea and became a Captain that loved taking family and friends out on a voyage. He lived on the boat for many years and he loved being on the water sailing. He had many adventurous trips out to sea, crossing the Gulf of Mexico twice and came back with many remarkable stories. He and Pat were members of the Auxiliary Coastguard for 8 years where they patrolled Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.  They were very active in various political arenas.  He also enjoyed his time at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston where he volunteered for several years.  They had the opportunity to spend a weekend on the USS Eisenhower out of Key West Florida and were catapulted off the ship.

Knute is preceded in death by his parents, Mrytle and Zenus Arthur Nevins, two brothers, Z. Arthur Jr and Warren Nevins, and wife Gerhild Nevins. He is survived by one brother Louis Nevins(Susie) and two sisters Sara Murray and Dena Clevenger, his companion Patricia Hruby, his 6 children, Lana Little (John), Dana Elliott (Gil), David Nevins(Teresa), Scott Nevins(Bobby), Carla Jacks(Gary), Geri Ann Heinz(Robert) and his son Andreas Nevins, whom succeeded him in death. Knute had 14 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. He also was survived by Patrica Hruby’s children, Debbie Muehr (Larry), Renee Eklund (Karl), Karri Gibson (Chuck), Gus Hruby and Robert (Bobby) Hruby who preceded him in death.  9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Graveside services will take place on February 27, 2019 at 9:00a.m. at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX  78209 Shelter 1. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Fund.