Gene Knapp

GENE KNAPP Harold Eugene Knapp, age 89 of Montreal, Missouri passed away August 6, 2015 at Lake Regional Health System in Osage Beach, Missouri. He was born on October 27, 1925 in Montreal, Missouri to Arthur and Lucy (Holson) Knapp. Gene graduated from Stoutland, Missouri High School in 1944 and soon after started serving his country in the United States Army. He served with CO. A 60th Armored Infantry Battalion 9th Division. He fought in the Battle of Remagen serving at the capturing of the Ludendorff Bridge crossing the Rhine River at Remagen, Germany. Medals he was awarded are: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Europe Africa Middle Eastern Theater ribbon with 3 Bronze Stars, 2 Overseas Bars, Honorable Service Lapel Button for World War II. On February 21, 1965 in Montreal, Missouri, in the home they built together, he was united in marriage to Shirley Ann (Garrison) and to this union one daughter was born, Deborah Ann. Together they shared fifty wonderful years of marriage. In 1954, he started working for the Missouri State Highway Department where he worked for 33 years until retirement. Gene enjoyed the outdoors which included quail hunting and fishing. Also, he and his wife enjoyed working on their farm raising cattle and tending their large vegetable garden. Other activities included travel, reading and following the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2005, he traveled with his family to Washington D.C. to view the World War II memorial. He was an active member of the Freedom Church of Christ which he enjoyed attending every Lord’s day. Gene enjoyed people and greeted everyone with a smile and a laugh. He was a loving husband, father, brother and uncle with a pleasant demeanor and caring heart. Gene was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Winifred Fletcher, Lillian Polly, and Crystal Light; two brothers, Ernest Knapp, and Homer Knapp; half-sister, Bessie Stratton. brothers-in-law, Robert Bergman, Melvin Light, Luther Polly, and Walt Fletcher; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Knapp and Pearl Knapp. He is survived by wife Shirley; daughter, Deborah and husband Todd Franklin; nieces, Elizabeth Anderberg and husband Fred, Lana Hootselle and husband Bob, Lucy Yanni and husband Jim and nephews, Ted Light, Doug Light and wife Sabrina and James Knapp and wife Linda. He also leaves other family members and many friends who will all truly miss him. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 11, 2015 in Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home. Burial with military honors will follow in Montreal Cemetery, Montreal. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m., Tuesday in the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice and left at the funeral home. Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Camdenton is assisting the family with arrangements.