Biography
The son of a farmer, Rev. Knapp was born in 1916 in New Lenox and grew up in Manhattan, Illinois. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Elmhurst College before attending Eden Seminary in Missouri.
He married Virginia in 1940. They had three children: George, Joan (Enyeart), Keith, Cheryl (Whitfield), and Gayle (Peloso).
In 1941, he was ordained and served three small parishes in the St. Louis area. In 1944, he joined the Army Chaplaincy Corps, 12th Infantry, 4th Division and served in the European theater. He landed with troops on Utah Beach during the Normandy invasion on D-Day.
After his military discharge as a captain in 1945, Rev. Knapp returned to Illinois and briefly attended the University of Chicago to study theology. He later headed United Church of Christ churches in Blue Island and Dyer, Indiana, before serving as pastor of Peace Church (United Church of Christ) in Bellwood for 16 years. He then served St. John in Melrose Park for 17 years.
Pastor Knapp died 28 June 2009 in LaGrange, Illinois.
He married Virginia in 1940. They had three children: George, Joan (Enyeart), Keith, Cheryl (Whitfield), and Gayle (Peloso).
In 1941, he was ordained and served three small parishes in the St. Louis area. In 1944, he joined the Army Chaplaincy Corps, 12th Infantry, 4th Division and served in the European theater. He landed with troops on Utah Beach during the Normandy invasion on D-Day.
After his military discharge as a captain in 1945, Rev. Knapp returned to Illinois and briefly attended the University of Chicago to study theology. He later headed United Church of Christ churches in Blue Island and Dyer, Indiana, before serving as pastor of Peace Church (United Church of Christ) in Bellwood for 16 years. He then served St. John in Melrose Park for 17 years.
Pastor Knapp died 28 June 2009 in LaGrange, Illinois.
Sources
- Obituary, Chicago Tribune (1 July 2009).