Eric W Knapp

Husband, father, brother, uncle, friend, and involved community member.

Eric died unexpectedly following an acute depressive episode that ended with his suicide on June 19, 2025. Eric was not historically a depressed person and his life is defined not by how it ended, but by his care and concern for others.

Eric was born to William and Eunice Knapp in Stevens Point, WI. He was a proud member of SPASH Class of 1976 and graduated from UWSP in 1980. Eric worked his entire career as an information technology professional. Some of his best lifelong friends came through his work.

Eric loved golf, fishing, downhill skiing, and music. He was also an athlete and played baseball and hockey in his early years and continued with softball and hockey as long as he felt he could.

Eric was profoundly grateful to the Wausau heart team who corrected his years long heart condition and following the surgery gave him two and a half years of quality life. Eric was also so happy to participate with a weekly music group and grateful for the music and the friendships with those men. Eric received much joy from the Mile of Music festival and continued to participate after moving from Appleton. For 25 years, Eric was an active Unitarian Universalist in the Fox Valley Fellowship and was grateful to have the opportunity to participate in the UU Wausau community after moving to the area in 2020.

After moving to Wausau, Eric celebrated his access to Granite Peak and was perfecting his downhill skiing technique over the last few years and loved getting on the runs early and often. Following his retirement, Eric tutored English with refugees and he greatly appreciated the connections and friends he made through those efforts. He celebrated progress as he was teaching himself to play the guitar. He was also an active and informed reader; carefully curating his reading list from the 100 best books ever written and New York Times bestsellers; his favorite book was Lonesome Dove.

Eric will be remembered for his cheerfulness, sense of humor, intelligence, and kindness for other people and animals that he encountered.

Eric is survived by his wife of 42 years, Jeanine, his son Paul, siblings Lorna Knapp (Brian Moushey), Paula (Cary) Bote, Sara (John) Oberthaler, Ron (Penny) Knapp; and in-law family Lynn Greff, Pat Ryan, Lisa McConnell, John (Wendy) Hunkele, and Jennifer (Marshall) Reece. He is preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Eunice, two in-law sisters Benita and Barb, two in-law brothers Pat Ryan and Ray Greff. He is further survived by nieces and nephews, cousins, and other extended family and friends.

Family and friends are invited to a memorial celebrating Eric’s life on August 24, 2025, at the Iverson Park Boy Scout Lodge (4201 E Main St, Stevens Point, WI 54481). Reception begins at 12 noon, followed by a service celebrating Eric’s life at 1 p.m. Luncheon will continue after the service and conclude by 5 pm. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Please bring lawn chairs for this informal picnic style event.