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WILLIAM F. KNAPP

Grave marker for William F. Knapp in Plot C, Site 1031k Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery, Evansville (Natrona county), Wyoming.

 

Las Vegas, Nev. -- Memorial services for William F. “Bill” Knapp, 96, will be held in the spring at the Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery in Casper. He died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, in Las Vegas.
   Mr. Knapp served in the U.S. military. He was a previous resident of Casper.
   Palm Mortuary has been entrusted with arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the University United Methodist Church in Las Vegas, the American Legion Post 76, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Bill's good friend Em Mousseau, wrote: 
  “He fell about 6-8 weeks ago, fracturing his pelvis, which put him into the hospital and he never recovered from that. He was in hospice for about 3-4 weeks - we think he gave up when he realized his life would never be independent again.
   We are just about to get the cremation authorization in place, so the date of December 3 at 10:00 a.m. for the services is solid now.
   There will be a military escort for Bill's remains and his family from the Palm Mortuary on Main Street near downtown Las Vegas.

Published in News Times from June 19 to June 20, 2016 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newstimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=180375771#sthash.ZVWKtYaw.LPCketuo.dpuf
Published in News Times from June 19 to June 20, 2016 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newstimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=180375771#sthash.ZVWKtYaw.LPCketuo.dpuf
Published in News Times from June 19 to June 20, 2016 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newstimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=180375771#sthash.ZVWKtYaw.LPCketuo.dpuf
Published in News Times from June 19 to June 20, 2016 - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/newstimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=180375771#sthash.ZVWKtYaw.LPCketuo.dpuf

  LAS VEGAS, Nev.— Former Casper resident William F. “Bill” Knapp passed away on November 8, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
   Bill was born June 28, 1922, in Howell, Michigan. During World War II, he served as a paratrooper with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division.
   After leaving military service, he worked as a traveling salesman in Colorado. During the early 1960s, he became a co-owner and manager of a motel and restaurant in Lander and President of the Lander Chamber of Commerce.
   In 1965, he became owner of the Sunrise Standard service station in Casper. Bill married Sandy (Shafer) McNees in Casper in 1970. They moved to Colorado, where they lived until 2000, when they moved to Las Vegas, Nevada.
   After Sandy’s passing in 2011, Bill became close friends with Em Stempin, who compiled a book of letters, documents, and remembrances from his time serving in World War II.
   Bill was a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner. He was President of the Broadmoor Rotary Club in Colorado Springs from 1991-1992. During his later years, he participated in services honoring unattended veterans at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery and was an honorary member of the Patriot Guard Riders.
   Bill is survived by his daughters, Sheila Sarver and Nikki Kohmescher; son, Don Knapp; stepsons, Lance and Brendan McNees; and in-laws, Judy and Bob Bradshaw, and Jan and Jim Conn.
   He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Sandy; and sons, Rick and Ron. A memorial service will be held at the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery in Evansville at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 17, 2019.

[Casper Star-Tribune, Casper, WY, 12 May 2019, Sun, Page B3]

NOTE:  William Knapp's book, "I Didn't Know Anyone Cared" finally telling his story after so many years, was published just a few days before he passed. He did get to see the book and was so pleased.
   It had been privately printed a couple of years ago exclusively for his family and friends. It was so well received that he made the decision to publish it, updating it and adding more pictures.
   In this final edition, he devoted an entire chapter to his best friend, Joe Endress - also 508th, 1st Bn, Co. B who was lost in the Battle of the Bulge - and Joe's two brothers, one of which was lost in the Pacific.

(now available on Amazon)  [see also,508th Library]

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