Paul Jerome Knapp, age 92, of Edina, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, May 25, 2010, at the Knox County Nursing Home at Edina, Missouri.
Mr. Knapp, a long-time resident of Edina, was born May 11, 1918, the fourth son of Joseph Clement and Mary Elizabeth Herr Knapp. He was born and lived on the family farm part of his life as well as in Edina and other Missouri locales.
Paul left his 8th grade class in order to work on the family farm when his father became ill. He later passed a comprehensive test and was awarded a Certificate of Attainment which entitled him to enter the first year class in any High School in the State of Missouri.
Mr. Knapp was one of ten children, and is survived by two sisters, Josephine Knapp Karhoff and Rita Knapp Fessler as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers John, Joseph and Frank Knapp, and sisters Clementine Dromey, Mildred Pettit, Dorothy Johnson and Ruth Anderson.
He enjoyed farming for a living, and was disappointed that he was not able to join the Army during World War II because of the loss of an eye in a hunting accident when he was nineteen years old.
P.J., as he was known to his family, was generous with his time and talent and entertained many with his stories of earlier days in Edina and vicinity. In later years he shared his home with his sister Josephine.
Mr. Knapp enjoyed reading and playing cards with family and friends. He spent many hours working on the garden and orchard at his home, and was skilled at making improvements and repairs to his home.
Mr. Knapp was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church at Edina.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, May 28, 2010, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Edina, Missouri. Father Joseph Hoi will officiate the services. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, May 28, 2010, one hour prior to the services at 11 a.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Edina, Missouri.
Memorials in memory of Paul Jerome Knapp may be made to the St. Joseph Catholic Church Restoration Committee. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1, Edina, Missouri, 63537.