D. Louise Knapp

Born in St. Louis, MO on November 20, 1910
Departed on July 14, 2008. Resided in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Memorial

D. Louise Knapp, 97, of Methwick Manor, 1224 13th St. NW, died on Monday, July 14, 2008 following a long life. Services will be held at 10 a.m. at St. Paul's
United Methodist Church by the Rev. Harlan Gillespie. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery followed by a luncheon.

Louise was born on November 20, 1910 in St. Louis, MO, the eldest of three children. Her father,.who worked for the YMCA, and family moved to Waterville,
Maine, Gary, Indiana and Marshalltown, Iowa, finally arriving in Cedar Rapids in 1919, where he became the general secretary of the then new YMCA. He was
instrumental in establishing the first "Community Chest" program, now known as the United Way and later served as the assistant to the president of Coe
College.

Her mother had suffered an early hearing loss which made group situations difficult, so Louise helped her father with the social responsibilities related to his jobs. Louise graduated from Washington High
School in 1928 and from Coe College in 1932 with a major in journalism. She belonged to the Alpha Xi Delta sorority. Louise was employed by the Cedar
Rapids Gazette as a college news reporter. In the midst of the Depression, she also worked for Killian Co as a clerk until she and her fiancée could afford
to get married.

Following the sudden death of her beloved father, Louise married Russell F.Knapp, son of her Camp Fire leader, Mary Boyd Knapp, on December 21, 1933, in
the family home in a blue velvet dress she admired and copied from the window at Killians Department Store. They created a life long partnership which lasted 74
years.

When children started arriving, Louise became an energetic mother, juggling the demands of her husband's growing compay, serving as Camp Fire and Cub Scout leader and volunteering for the church and community doing whatever needed to be
done. She took a year to learn Russell's business, Securities Corporation of Iowa, in case he had to go to war. Her journalist training made her the best
editor of school papers for her children and grandchildren, and her wonderful sense of humor and wit produced hilarious poems to celebrate all sorts of
occasions for her family.

Louise was active in the Coe Alumni Association, The Tourist Club, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, PEO, The United Nations and the Home Garden Club.
Many non-profit organizations benefited from her and Russell's philanthropic gifts.

Once her family was launched, she and Russell traveled all over the world, exploring countries that were just opening up to tourism. She took slides or
filmed many of her experiences which she presented as programs to different organizations.

Louise was truly a life long learner, enjoying theater, concerts and the Forum classes at Coe well into her 90's.. She never hesitated to embrace new ideas and was computer literate long before some of her children which helped her churn out her annual letter to friends and family until she was 95 years old. .

Louise dearly loved her family and her community. She was greatly saddened by The effects of the flood and three weeks prior to her death asked her daughter,
Carolyn, to give her a driving tour of the neighborhoods surrounding Methwick
so that she could see for herself the devastation that so greatly affected many of the employees of Methwick.

Louise was a good woman in the finest sense. Her graciousness, generosity of spirit and good humor were gifts to us all. She made the world a better place with her presence and she will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Louise is survived by her three daughters, Carolyn Charles Wellso of Cedar Rapids, Janet Miller of Charlottesville , VA, Kathy Eldon Michael Bedner
of Malibu, CA; daughter-in-law, Barbara Knapp Jim Nikrant of Cedar Rapids; ten grandchildren, John Wellso of Mt. Vernon, Charles Carmel Wellso of
Denver, CO, Elizabeth Wellso Stuart Morris of Stevens Point, WI, Amy Wellso Bob St. Onge of Seattle, WA, Linda Dennis McDermott of Cedar Rapids, David Knapp Cindy Hoffman of Chicago, IL, Diana Rick Ledford of Oak Park, IL,
Julia Miller Alfonso Moralas of Hacienda Poxila, Mexico, John Miller of Charlottesville, VA,
Amy Eldon Jon Turteltaub of Malibu, CA, 12 great grandchildren , her sister, Evelyn Staves
of Canoga Park, CA and a special AFS daughter Turid Resell Oyen, Halden Norway.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Florence and John B. Northcott, her husband, Russell, a brother, John Northcott, a son , John Northcott Knapp, a grandson , Daniel Robert Eldon and a granddaughter, Laura Andree Miller.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Waypoint, The Flood Recovery Fund at the Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation, St Paul's Church and the Foreign Student Scholarship Fund at Coe College.

Please leave a tribute or memory for the family on our webpage at www.cedarmemorial.com under bituaries.

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