- Date Of Birth: April 26, 1934
- Date Of Death: March 10, 2018
- State: Illinois
James E. “Jim” Knapp, 83, of South Jacksonville, IL passed away late Saturday, March 10, 2018, at St. John’s Hospice in Springfield, IL. He was born April 26, 1934, in Hamburg, IL, the son of William and Melvina Inman Knapp. He married Wilma Stewart on June 29, 1956, in Jacksonville and she survives.
He is also survived by two children, Rebecca “Becky” Flynn (companion, Greg Foster) of Springfield and Gary E. Knapp (wife, Susan) of Jacksonville; three grandchildren, Jake Flynn (wife, Abby) of Franklin, Luke Flynn (wife, Bobbi) of South Jacksonville, and Sarah Jo Dean (husband, Jason) of Bloomington; three great-grandchildren, Griffen and Brinley Flynn of Franklin and Lilly Flynn of South Jacksonville; three siblings, William Knapp (wife, Wilma) of Meredosia, Margarette Witherbee of Portland, OR, and JoAnn Carriger of Jacksonville; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings, Mary Pearl Rafferty, Charles Knapp, Theodore Gene Knapp, and Thomas Augustus Knapp.
A graduate of Franklin High School, Jim was retired following 34 ½ years of service with General Telephone Company. He served with the US Army from 1953-to 1955, stationed in Germany. He was a former member of the Youngblood Baptist Church, Jacksonville Moose Lodge, and Starlite Campers at Lake Jacksonville. An avid hunter and fisherman, Jim was a member of Bassmasters, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Whitetails Unlimited. He was also a dedicated member of the Franklin-Waverly Military Support Group and a devoted sports fan, especially his beloved St. Louis Cardinals. Yet his greatest priority was attending every activity and event in which his children and grandchildren were involved.
