Steven Lewis "Steve" Knopp

Steven Lewis Knopp, went to be with the Lord on August 21st, 2025.

Born and raised in West Seattle, Steve's world included aviation from an early age. His father and two uncles retired from Boeing, and his first airplane ride at the age of eight was in an uncle's Cessna 180 single engine airplane.

As a youth, Steve was involved early in Explorer Scouts which included assisting King County Search & Rescue with their efforts. Part-time jobs included working at a gas station, and a diner, and eventually he owned his own paperstand where he sold the Seattle Times on First Ave.

For hobbies, Steve enjoyed fishing and hunting with family, cars and motorcycles, competition shooting, snow and water skiing, skydiving, bowling, and snorkeling, writing poetry and feeding the hummingbirds.

Steve served in the Air Force (1965-1969), and was promoted to Sergeant (E4) serving as an aircraft maintenance instructor at Chanute Air Force Base, and later in the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron stationed at Clark Airforce Base, Philippine Islands, as a shop foreman working on C-130H aircraft and HH3 helicopters.

Steve was married to his first wife, Carolyn, for eight years and had two daughters, Shirley and Cynthia. Steve received his FAA Aircraft & Powerplant (A&P) license in 1969 and earned his pilot's license in 1970. He subsequently received his IA (Inspection Authorization) certification, and commercial, instrument, multi-engine and seaplane pilot's licenses.

He opened Snohomish Aircraft Paint and Fabric at Harvey Field in Snohomish with friend Jerry Hopp (aka the Hopp & Knopp Paint Shop). Steve and Jerry also owned Boogie Parachute Club (aka the Hopp & Knopp Paradrop), operating two Beech 18's for skydiving.

It was through his involvement with skydiving that he met Norma Yandell, also a skydiver, and they married in 1975. Together, they opened P. Ponk Aviation in 1978, primarily specializing in Cessna engine maintenance, restorations, overhauls and modifications. In 1982, Steve and Norma moved the shop to Camano Island Airfield, where the business remains today.

Steve and Norma spent many summers in Alaska, working the salmon industry through 1995, on the remote beaches and Alaskan bush. These experiences helped them develop several products, including the landing gear beef-up kits and Super Eagle O-520 engine conversions for Cessna aircraft.

Other P. Ponk experiences included import and export of US and foreign aircraft, including several Yugoslav military jets, and travel to different corners of the globe for both work and vacations.

Steve added to his certifications by becoming an FAA Designated Mechanic Examiner (DME) from 1990 - 2006, offering oral and practical tests to A&P mechanic applicants. He also served as an FAA Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR-T) from 2003 through 2018, where he inspected aircraft and issued airworthiness certificates.

P.Ponk Aviation earned recognition from the FAA including presentation of the "Friends of the FSDO" award in 1996. Steve was honored as the Maintenance Technician of the Year in 2001 by the NW Region FAA office, and in 2016 the FAA Charles Taylor "Master Mechanic" Award, which honors 50 years of service as a licensed FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic.

Steve's personality was as outgoing as his life was active. A social person, he thrived on speaking with customers, and was always inventing and improving, creating a lasting impact on the aviation world that will ripple for decades to come.

Steve was a romantic, who loved giving flowers and jewelry generously to his wife and daughters. He had a great sense of humor; even the name of his business (Knopp backwards) started out as a joke. He was quick-witted and intelligent, able to laugh at himself. There are so many moments his family will cherish and tell stories about fondly for years to come.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Elaine Knopp, his sister Judy (Jim) Pepper, his brother Laird Knopp and nephew Andre Volz. He is survived by his wife, Norma Knopp, his two daughters and their families, Shirley (Rob) O'Gorman, and Cynthia (Jim) Weaver, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, as well as his Uncle Bert (Janice) Knopp, SIL Sylvia Knopp, and cousins, nieces and nephews. Steve will be greatly missed not only by his family, but also by many folks in the aviation community around the world.

A Memorial Service is planned for late September, please contact info@pponk.com or text 425-422-6157 for information.

In Lieu of Flowers, donations in Steve's name can be made to either of these organizations:

- Mission Aviation Training Academy (MATA) Memorial Fund: https://mata-usa.org/Online gifts: Contributions can be made online with Credit or Debit Cards or Bank Transactions, or mail physical checks to: PO Box 3655, Arlington WA 98223 Make Checks Payable to "Mission Aviation Training Academy". Please write "In Memory of Steve Knopp" in the comments section

- American Legion Post 92 Stanwood: Mail to: PO Box 323 Stanwood WA 98292 - Please comment "In Memory of Steve Knopp" on your donation.