Rev. Gordon W. Knapp

The Rev. Gordon W. Knapp of Liverpool died at home on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the age of 92. The son of Howard F. Knapp and Muriel Taft Knapp of Oneida, New York, Mr. Knapp was educated in the Oneida public schools, at Colgate University, and Colgate Rochester Divinity School. He began serving congregations of the United Methodist Church in 1954 and continued in pastoral ministry for over 60 years in ten different churches. In later years, he was honored as Pastor Emeritus of the Baldwinsville United Methodist Church.
In his Annual Conference, Mr. Knapp chaired both the Board of Pensions and the Council on Finance and Administration. He also was active in adult Christian Education, as a camp director at Casowasco, and as Secretary of the Board of Ordained Ministry. Among many other areas of service, he once led the Migrant Commission of the New York State Council of Churches, was named to the Onondaga County Mental Health Advisory Board, was a Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and was elected a member of the North Syracuse Board of Education.
Mr. Knapp was a 65 year member of Memorial Lodge #648 F&AM and a Grand Chaplain Emeritus of The Grand Lodge of the State of New York.
He cherished his wife and family, loved the work of a pastor, preacher, and administrator in the local church, and enjoyed reading history, writing poetry and satire, listening to classical music, and playing golf with friends.
Mr. Knapp was predeceased by his wife of 69 years, Janet Miller Knapp, and his three sisters, Shirley Harris, Marilyn Fish and Joyce Clinch.
He is survived by his two sons, William H. (Angela) Knapp, and Timothy C. (Patricia) Knapp and a daughter, Susan K. (Kevin) Lawrence. He leaves nine grandchildren, April (Jason) Frank, Laura Owens, Jason Knapp, Erik Williams, Elise (Ting) Khumkwa, Melissa (Nicole) Knapp, Amanda (Donavan) Wilson, Rebecca Lawrence and Michael Lawrence, and 11 great- grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Monday, March 16, 2026, at 1 PM at the Baldwinsville First United Methodist Church, 17 W. Genesee Street, Baldwinsville. The family will greet friends following the service. A private burial will be alongside his wife and paternal grandparents in the South Onondaga Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Francis House or a United Methodist Church.