Memorial

Russell Floyd Knapp, 98 of The Methwick Community, Cedar Rapids died there on Monday, September 10, 2007. Memorial Services 11:00 a.m. Monday at St. Paul's United Methodist Church with Rev. Harlan Gillespie officiating. Luncheon following service.

Russell is survived by his wife of 74 years, D. Louise Northcott Knapp; three daughters, Carolyn Wellso and her husband Dr. Charles Wellso of Cedar Rapids, Janet Miller of Charlottesville, VA, and Kathy Eldon and Michael Bedner of Los Angeles, CA; a daughter-in-law Barbara Knapp and husband Jim Nikrant of Cedar Rapids; ten grandchildren, John Wellso, Mt. Vernon; Charles Carmel Wellso, Sausalito, CA; Elizabeth Wellso Stuart Morris, Stevens Point, WI; Julia Miller and Alfonso Moralas, Palenque, Mexico; Linda Knapp Dennis McDermott, Cedar Rapids; Amy Wellso Bob St. Onge, Seattle, WA; John Miller, Charlottesville, VA; David Knapp and Cindy Hoffman, Chicago, IL; Diana Knapp Rick Ledford, Oak Park, IL; Amy Eldon Jon Turteltaub, Los Angeles, CA; and nine great grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his parents; two brothers, Stanley and Montelle Knapp; a son, John Northcott Knapp; grandchildren Laura Andr?e Miller and Daniel Robert Eldon.

Russell was born on September 21, 1908 in Kenwood, Linn County, Iowa, the youngest of three sons of Floyd Henry and Mary Boyd Knapp. He graduated from Washington High School in 1926 where he lettered in football, basketball, track and tennis. He was the all-state quarterback on the Washington team that defeated Louisville, KY 6-0 for the National Championship in 1925. He was recently inducted into the Washington High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He attended Coe College and became the number one tennis player as a sophomore and the captain of their Midwest Conference championship team. He graduated in 1930.

On December 21, 1933, he married Louise Northcott. It was during the Great Depression and since he was barely making a living selling insurance with John Hancock, he had to borrow twenty dollars from his brother for the honeymoon. He joined a high school friend, Ernie Kosek, in his business selling stocks and bonds and found that would become his life's work. In 1935, he opened his own securities business, Knapp and Company, with his brother Montelle. Over time, the business became Knapp and Gundling, Knapp and Taylor, and finally grew into Securities Corporation of Iowa SCI. Under the leadership of his late son, John, SCI Financial Group grew with offices in Chicago, Waterloo, and Atlanta. It was sold to Wells Fargo in 2001.

Russell loved his work. He loved to help his clients make money and then he loved to help them give it away. He believed service to the community was the primary responsibility of an adult. He served in many organizations and on many boards, including Coe College, St. Paul's Church, The United Way, the YMCA, St. Luke's Hospital, Junior Chamber of Commerce, The Cedar Rapids Symphony, and the Lions Club. In 2006, he was awarded the Coe College Alumni Award of Merit. He was inducted into the Junior Achievement's Business Hall of Fame in 2001. During the same year, he was awarded Coe College's highest and most distinguished honor, The Founders Medal. The National Society of Fund Raising Executives named Russell the Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year in 1996. Coe College named him a lifetime member of the Board of Trustees in 1978.

Russell enjoyed sports throughout his life but his passion was tennis. He was a member of the Cedar Rapids Tennis Associates, winning the Cedar Rapids Championships in 1942 and 1944. For the next thirty years he enjoyed the Super Senior tennis circuit, which took him to tournaments around the country and to Wimbledon, England. At the age of 90, he placed 12th in the nation at the Super Seniors tournament in Fr. Lauderdale, FL in the 90 to 95 year old age group. He continued to play for fun practice until he was 95.

Russell's story is inseparable from that of Louise. He and Louise believed that the hope for the future of the world lay in education and international cooperation and understanding. They practiced this with their family by taking them on educational trips around the U.S. and to Europe. They sponsored foreign exchange students from all over the world including American Field Service student Turid Rusell, who truly became an international part of their family. Russell and Louise established a scholarship fund for international students at Coe.

Russell loved his community and family. He was known for his focus, tenacity, and determination, and for his spirit of optimism. He believed that if he or you set a mind to it, almost any problem could be solved. He loved getting up each day to see what could be done.

Memorials may be made in his honor to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Coe College, History Center, Waypoint or Camp Wapsie.