Final Salute

CHARLES R. KNAPP (Chuck) of Morley, Michigan, age 90, passed away on Monday, March 20, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. He was born to Charles and Alice (Taylor) Knapp on March 27, 1932 in Lexington, Kentucky.
Chuck always had a passion for history, and everything about American Indians, ancient lore, and primitive technologies. He was a member of the Michigan Flintknappers and learned how to flintknap, which is the art of making stone tools and arrowheads. He was collecting historical firearms and building his own muzzleloading guns when he was a young man in the 1940’s, and was a member of the National Muzzleloading Association as well as local and regional muzzleloading groups. Chuck was also an excellent guitarist, moving from his early studies of classical and flamenco styles to what would become a lifelong study of the fingerpicking styles of the old blues acoustic guitar masters. He could fix most anything or build it with his own hands. His children remember learning from him by doing; handing him specific tools or holding 2 x 4’s while he sawed them by hand, and the best ways to satisfy a sweet tooth in between. What he enjoyed most was having family and grandchildren around him, sharing and caring.
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1956. He was part of the United States Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) for two years, first stationed at Guam; then Kwajelein. He was later stationed at Coronado, California at the Naval Amphibious base for his final two years where he worked in the logistics department.
Chuck is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-six years, Mary Knapp; loving children Wyatt (Shari) Knapp, Ben (Ann) Knapp, Bryan (Rosa) Knapp and Cindy (Todd) Lumbert; twelve grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and four sisters, Ruth Paulucci, Faith Reminga, Marjorie Burns, and Joan Lucchesi.
There will be a time of public visitation from 10:00a.m. until 11:00a.m. on Wednesday, March 29th, 2023 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 9596 Reed Rd, Howard City, MI 49329. The funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Military Honors will be conducted after the funeral mass. A graveside service will be held in the spring. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery, Cross Village, Michigan. Those wishing to offer an expression of sympathy are encouraged to make a memorial contribution to the St. Joseph’s Indian School. https://www.stjo.org
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Charles, please visit our floral store.

Published by Howard City Funeral & Cremation Services – Howard City on Mar. 23, 2023.