Memorial
Rebecca Marie Thomason Babbitt Knappe, 98, of Cedar Rapids passed away on Sunday, November 15, 2015 at Cottage Grove Place in Cedar Rapids. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, November 20, 2015 at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM one hour prior to the service at the Chapel. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 PM at the Fjeldberg Cemetery, Huxley, Iowa.
Marie was born on January 23, 1917 to Clara (Torgerson) and Sanford Helland. She grew up on the family farm south of Huxley, graduating from Huxley High School in 1934 and Iowa Lutheran School of nursing in 1938.
She met Chuck Thomason while working in Des Moines. They married in 1941 while Chuck was in the Coast Guard. Marie followed his career working as a nurse in New York, Florida, California, Nebraska and eventually in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.
After Chuck’s death, she met Ken Babbitt who brought to the marriage a foster son Roy Karlson, his children LuAnn Tallman and David Karlson, a daughter, Gayle Bray and her son’s Daniel and Nick Bray and a daughter, Donna Daum and her daughter Amana Katora. Great grandchildren now include Emily Tallman, Lilly Bray and Johnny Katora. Marie had always wished for a son, so she and Ken adopted Roy in 1993.
Marie ended her nursing career at the age of 70 writing curriculum for the University of Iowa nursing department. She and Ken moved to Cottage Grove Place in 1997 and continued to winter at Cove Kay, Florida. After Ken’s death she met Herman Knappe. They were united in marriage in 2004 and they continued to reside at Cottage Grove Place. Herman has a son David and grandson John who enlarged her family.
Marie was active in her church, a member of P.E.O., enjoyed traveling, dancing and spending time with her family and friends.
Survivors include her husband Herman, son Roy (Jean) Karlson; step-daughters, Gayle and Donna (Steve) and step-son David; 6 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; sister, Ivy Juon; and many nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her parents, husband’s Chuck and Ken and siblings Seerly, Doris and Clark.
Memorial donations may be directed to Kirkwood Community College Nursing Scholarship Program in Marie’s honor.