Frances Ann Knoop

Frances “Ann” ImOberstag Knoop was born on April 16th, 1953 in Dearborn, MI to Irving ImOberstag and Frances Ann Bryant.  She was the youngest of 6 siblings.  Ann attended Kingswood preparatory school before going onto college at Arizona State University, where she majored in American History.  This allowed Ann’s love of the southwest and all that came along with it to flourish.  After graduating, Ann moved to Wickenburg, AZ; a town she had spent much time in growing up at the Los Caballeros Dude ranch.  Ann worked for the ranch and also was the head curator at the _Desert_Caballeros Western  Museum.  

After spending 10 years in Arizona, Ann came back home to Dearborn, MI to help run the family company, Kean Manufacturing Corporation, with her four sisters; Peggy, Kay, Sally, and Mary.  Ann was Vice President of Research and Development and was tasked with handling startups and shutdowns of plants across the country and abroad.  While living in Dearborn, Ann met the love of her life, Robert Alan Knoop.83  The two were married at the Martha-Mary Chapel in Dearborn on January 15th 19.  Ann and Bob had two children, Chelsea and RJ.  As Chelsea and RJ grew, Ann decided to take a step back from her role at the company, and she embraced motherhood whole-heartedly.  Ann was always at every dance recital or competition (She was the “head mom” backstage), every horse show, every baseball game, and would always be behind the goalie net at every hockey game.  Ann cherished the time she was able to spend driving across the country to various shows, competitions, and tournaments with her kids.  Lots of adventures were had!

As her kids were graduating and moving on, Ann stepped into a new leadership role helping the Arabian Horse Association of Michigan and the AHA Region 13 club to become as successful as possible.  Ann poured countless hours into running multiple horse shows, and helping exhibitors have positive experiences with the Arabian Horse.  She also served on the Arabian Horse Association board for multiple years.  

She also used her history degree to research her genealogy and was working on compiling tons of letters from her grandparents about their courtship and travels.  

Ann loved her grandchildren maybe most of all.  She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Payne, Chloe, Quinn, Hattie and was eager to meet the newest family member, Wheeler.  

Ann spent much of her last decade quietly fighting Multiple Myeloma.  She was a pillar of strength and resiliency and throughout various treatments and transplants would always say, “It’s going to be okay”.   Ann lost her valiant battle with cancer on April 27th, 2025 surrounded by her kids.  

Ann is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Alan Knoop, Jr., her parents, Irving ImOberstag and Frances Ann ImOberstag, her father in law, Robert Alan Knoop, Sr, and siblings, Katherine Campbell, Irving ImOberstag, Jr (Butch), and Peggy Campbell.  She is survived by her children, Robert James Knoop (Savannah), and Chelsea Bryant Harper (Jeremy), and her grandchildren, Payne Harper, Chloe Harper, Quinn Harper, Hattie Knoop and Wheeler Knoop.  

The Arabian Horse Foundation or the The Health Tree Foundation for Multiple Myeloma Research  Arrangements for private cremation entrusted to the Dearborn Location of the Howe-Peterson Funeral Home and Cremation Services.