Investing in Community Education
The Elmbrook Education Foundation supports the students at all 11 of the District's public schools through its Continuing Education Scholarship, Innovation Grant and Super Grant Programs. In addition, the Foundation has established an endowment held by the Waukesha County Community Foundation to provide a source of permanent support for Foundation programs. For more information, please refer to the Foundation's web site.
In memory of Landis F. Knutson .....
Landis F. Knutson passed away on November 17, 2010 at the age of 80. Services were held at the Community United Methodist Church in Elm Grove on November 21, 2010. Memorials were directed to the Elmbrook Education Foundation because of Landis’s passion for education and his impact within the Elmbrook School District as both a teacher and administrator.
Landis began his career with the newly formed Elmbrook School District in 1955. Landis later served as an Assistant Principal at Pilgrim Park Middle School alongside Irv Hoesly who served as Principal from 1966-1985. Landis and Irv were close friends during their tenure with Elmbrook. Irv recently passed away as well (please see related story).
Landis also served as an Elementary School principal at Fairview North (1970-1975), Leland (1975-1976), Swanson (1976-1984), and Wisconsin Hills (1984-1988). Wisconsin Hills was opened as an Elementary School when Elmbrook’s Linfield Elementary and Swanson Elementary schools were closed and consequently merged into Wisconsin Hills. He carefully assisted his students and their families with the transition from Swanson to Wisconsin Hills Elementary and comforted them as they made the transition to a ‘larger school’ environment. He made it a home to students, staff and parents and made everyone feel part of this new “family”.
He touched the lives of many students and teachers and is remembered as a compassionate and positive advocate who truly respected and enjoyed his students’ and staff’s individuality; and a man of great integrity, whose warm and generous personality, mixed with a sense of humor, made for a very special friend.
Landis’s children both attended Elmbrook schools and graduated from Brookfield Central (Gil, ’72 and Chad, ’77). His grandchildren also attended Elmbrook schools. Gil’s children (Andy, Robby and Molly) all graduated from Brookfield East and Chad’s children (KC and Eric) both graduated from Brookfield Central.
Landis worked within the Elmbrook system as a teacher and principal for a total of 33 years and retired in 1988. Even in retirement, Landis was forever learning and forever the educator. He served as a member of the City of Brookfield Park and Recreation Commission for many years. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 42 and the Wisconsin Retired Educators Association.
Memorials can be sent to the family or the EEF (P.O. Box 206, Brookfield WI 53008). Please make check payable to the Elmbrook Education Foundation with a subject line of “Landis F. Knutson Fund”. The family has directed a portion of the current memorial fund balance as a leadership gift to the Elmbrook Staff Leads the Way fund in his honor. The family has directed additional funds to the Elementary Technology Grant Campaign in honor of his time spent as an administrator in Elmbrook's Elementary Schools during his career. A plaque in his honor will be displayed at Swanson Elementary School as that is the school where Landis spent the majority of his career in Elmbrook.
All gifts to this fund will be acknowledged with the family. Landis’s full obituary can be found on JSOnline.
