Joseph William Knapp

Joseph William Knapp, 77, of Danville, passed away at 12:20 p.m. Friday, August 26, 2005 at Provena United Samaritans Medical Center in Danville. Joseph was born on August 21, 1928 in Port Byron, Illinois, the son of Joseph and Iva (Zieglar) Knapp. He married Rosaleen M. Martini on June 25, 1955 in Milan, Illinois. She survives. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June with a card shower. He is also survived by one brother- Charles Boots (Betty) Knapp of Port Byron, Illinois; two sisters- Phyllis Butterfield of Geneseo, Illinois and Lois Arbour of Ozark, MO; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Joe graduated from Cordova High School in 1996. He attended Western Illinois University in Macomb and graduated from the University of Illinois in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War having served in Korea for 14 months. In 1954 while Joe was in Korea he was selected to escort Marilyn Monroe during her visit. He had helped his father on the family farm, had also been employed at Deere & Co. in East Moline, DeSplinter Farm Equipment in Port Byron, Hemp & Co. in Macomb, American Air Filter in Moline, the University of Illinois Department of Agronomy Research Farm and the Agriculture Consultants Inc. in Villa Grove, Illinois. From 1958 to his retirement in 1986 Joe was employed at the Federal Land Bank of Watseka which controlled five counties in farm loans. He was a member of the Stewart Lodge #92 AF&AM in Geneseo, Illinois. He enjoyed his cars and Illini basketball and their dogs. He loved working with the farmers and the AG people. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday August 30, 2005 at Gibson Funeral Home in Port Byron, Illinois, with Pastor Larry Misfeldt officiating. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Monday at Gibson Funeral Home in Port Byron, Illinois. Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Danville. Memorials may be made to Donors Choice.