KNAPPER, Earl M. (1909-1996)

KNAPPER, ROPES, BERGMAN, GJERDE, HOUSE, BURMA, SEAL, GIBSON

Posted By: Hancock Co Genealogical Society
Date: 9/26/2022 at 14:36:58

Earl Knapper
1909-1996

Services for Earl Knapper, 87, of Crystal Lake who died Sunday, Sept 29, 1996, at Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt will be held 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at Calvary Lutheran Church in Crystal Lake with Rev. Robert Snitzer as officiant.

Barbara Larson, organist, will accompany soloist, Bruce Wubben.

Casket bearers will be Lloyd Gjerde, Ron Gjerde, Mark Gjerde, Joel Gjerde, Larry Burma and Kevin Meyer.

Burial will be in Crystal Township Cemetery in Crystal Lake. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Wednesday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Britt.

Earl Menno Knapper, the son of Charles and Susie (Ropes) Knapper, was born February 28, 1909 at Sibley. He attended school at Sibley. At the age of 16, he moved to California where he worked for the Goodyear Tire Company and later for a tool & die business.

July 5, 1967, he married Florence Bergman Gjerde at Las Vegas, NV. After retiring in 1975, they moved to Miller and in 1982 to Crystal Lake. He enjoyed making furniture for his family, bingo, fishing and playing pool.

Earl was a member of the Crystal Lake Senior Citizens.

He is survived by his wife, Florence Knapper of Crystal Lake; a daughter Nancy House and her husband, Robert of Temecula, CA; a son, Robert Knapper and his wife, Jan of CA; four step-children, Lloyd M. Gjerde and his wife, Alice of Des Moines, Eugene R. Gjerde and his wife, Judy of Columbus, MS, Ronald K. Gjerde and his wife, Judy of Forest City, and Jody Burma of Bancroft; eight grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren; a brother, Charles "Babe" Knapper and his wife, Phyllis of Temecula, CA., and a sister, Gloria Seal and her husband, Carl of Misson Viejo, CA.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Loretta Gibson; his parents; two brothers, John Knapper and Harm Meyer; and a stepson, Gregory Gjerde.

source: Leader & Signal, Garner, Iowa, 2 Oct 1996, page 6, column 1