Joan Knapp Obituary

Joan Knapp, age 89, longtime resident of Wheaton, IL, died suddenly Oct. 19, 2009, at her home in Denver, CO. Born in British Guiana, South America, she spent her youth as part of a family of eight children who traveled to boarding school in England. Employed at the US Army base in BG where she met her future husband Charles "Don" Knapp during World War II, they were married there and rode the troop ship back to the US at the end of the war. They resided in Evanston before settling in Wheaton, where they raised their family. After Don's passing, Joan moved to Geneva, IL before moving to Denver. Joan was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Wheaton and former president of the Catholic Women's League, worked for several employers (Kroehler Manufacturing in Naperville, and Charles A. Stevens in Yorktown and in Stratford Square). She retired from Montgomery Ward Signature Group in Schaumburg. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and six siblings. She is survived by her twin brother Leonard of England, daughter Barbara Hall (John) of Wheaton, daughter Deborah Knapp (James Mackay) of Denver, grandson Christopher Hall (Dana) and two great grandsons of New Jersey, sister-in-law Stella of England, and many nieces and nephews and their families all over the world. Mass was held at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Denver on Monday, October 26, with a memorial service at St. Michael's Catholic Church on Wednesday, December 9, at 11 a.m. Burial was arranged privately at St. Michael's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts in her name be directed to the Wheaton Public Library for an outdoor bench facing Adams Park to be enjoyed by all.