Martin M. Knapp

Martin Knapp

Marty Knapp died on May 12, 2024, with 92 years of life. He was born August 24, 1931 in Struthers, Ohio, the first son of workaday people, Martin and Anne (nee Tremko) Knapp. He is survived by his younger sister, Mary Knapp of Struthers and predeceased by his younger brothers, Edward and James. Marty served his country honorably in the Army and used the GI Bill to become the first in his family to graduate college (St. Joseph of Indiana). He was smart enough to marry Elizabeth Warner after she picked him out of a room full of young men at a college dance. Marty Knapp was an old-school father who quietly supported his family, practicing human resources for industry and government in the Dayton area. He was very proud of his children, Greg (Carol) Knapp, Ed (Amy) Knapp, Stephanie (Mark) Skapik, and Dave (Lynn) Knapp. He never missed a high school sports contest or event featuring any child. He would often bring a cold one in a brown paper bag to make the high school tennis matches in the park more enjoyable!

Marty’s interests included fishing with his son-in-law, Mark, watching every Reds, Bengals and UD Flyers basketball game, and keeping his automobiles pristine.  He showed us how to update old houses and shop smartly (and often).  He showed us that the key to a happy life was a happy wife.

In addition to his wife of 67 years and their children, Marty is survived by 11 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He may have been prouder of them than his own. He and Liz looked forward to a yearly family reunion vacation at Fountain Point, MI where they would host the entire clan plus “hangers-on.” He loved music and fine stereo equipment to play it. He taught us to live in the city, camp in the country and to be honest and reliable in everything we did. He golfed and fished and played bridge with the Four Seasons, Marty and Liz’s long-time friends from Dayton View. Marty Knapp loved a Manhattan and taught his children and grandchildren to do the same. We miss him already.

There will be a Funeral Mass at 1:00 p.m. on May 25 at Christ the King Church in Mt. Lookout (Cincinnati) with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please do something nice for a stranger (or for someone you know) or make a contribution to a veteran’s support charity as Marty often did.