Whether you hunt, fish or you are a person of the outdoors, a knife can save your life, but more importantly a knife can tell a story.
My favorite knife is this Swiss Army knife. I use it regularly to open a package, tighten a screw or cut fishing line.
This knife belonged to my grandfather, LaVern Zunkel. He was born May 24, 1923, in Boone County, the son of Clifford and Marie Elliott Zunkel. He was a graduate of Ogden high school and in 1944 entered the United States Army, serving with the 90th Infantry Division during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and received the good conduct ribbon, European Theatre Ribbon, two Battle Stars, a Victory Ribbon and a Combat Infantry Badge.
On November 25, 1948 he married my grandmother, Beverly. For those that remember LaVern and Beverly, they were the sweetest little couple and I’m thankful to have grown up with them being a big part of my life.
Grandpa passed in 2001 and Grandma passed in 2008. It wasn’t long after grandma passed that we were going through different things and I came upon this knife. I’d never really carried a knife, but I thought this was something that would be great to hold on to remembering my grandfather.
Since 2008, this knife has made it’s home in my right pocket. I’ve carried other knives, but it isn’t the same as carrying this red Swiss Army knife.
The funny thing is I’ve lost several other knives over the past decade, but I’ve never lost this one. Sure I’ve misplaced it a time or two, but it always shows back up. Most recently, I misplaced it…I wasn’t mad it was more of a sadness. The weird part is I had a feeling it would show back up. And guess what…I was cleaning out my closet and there it was under a pile of dirty laundry.
This knife to me is not a knife, it is a piece of me and a part of my grandfather that I will always carry. This knife has a story from an Iowa farm boy, a WWII veteran, a father and a grandfather.
Fishing Iowa and the Midwest 