Delons John Knapp

1937 - 2025

Delons John Knapp

October 13, 1937 - July 26, 2025

Delons John Knapp was born Oct. 13, 1937 in Temvik, North Dakota. He was the only child of John Knapp and Mary Eva Lipp-Knapp.

He graduated from Linton High School and North Dakota State with a dual major in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics. He was immediately hired by Deere and Company at their John Deere Des Moines Works. He worked there for five years before being transferred to the corporate offices in Moline, Illinois. At about this time, he decided John was a more convenient name. John met his wife to be, Carol, while working at Des Moines Works. They were married for 60 years.

After moving to Moline, the couple had two sons - Eric and John - and spent the next 34 years being active in church and community. He retired from Deere and Company after 39 years of service. In 1998, John and Carol relocated first to Placitas, New Mexico and then in 2003 to Oro Valley, Arizona.

John loved mathematics and incorporated it into all he did. He was treasurer of many organizations. In Moline at Faith Lutheran Church he served as Financial Secretary as well as Sunday School Superintendent and President of the Church Council He was treasurer of The Moline Boys Choir and The Literacy Connection. He continued to be a treasurer at Resurrection Lutheran Church after moving to Tucson. At Resurrection he was also instrumental in the Alpha program for five years.

Because of John's passion for numbers, he documented everything from costs of vacations to number of miles he ran. He was an avid runner and recorded 30,000 miles ran, including 6 marathons. He was an active member of the Cornbelt Running Club in Moline and even won a few trophies. John rode across Iowa in the annual RAGBRAI ride and completed several TOMRVA rides from Davenport to Dubuque.

In Tucson, he was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure so activities were limited. He was a member of the Vistoso Cyclists and completed a two-week bike and barge trip through the Netherlands and Germany with the club even with his health challenges.

John loved sports and was an avid supporter of Moline basketball and enthusiastic Dad for his two sons who swam at Moline. He coached little league football and played senior league softball He self published three sports books, Moline swimming and basketball and Linton basketball. He played on Linton High School baseball and basketball teams.

For a stay at home type of guy, John traveled the world. He worked at the John Deere Plants in Spain and Mexico. He visited Taiwan, China, Tibet, South and Central America, New Zealand, Mexico and Europe.

John is survived by his wife, Carol. His son Eric and wife Kim - of Boise, Idaho and son John and his wife Mandy of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He adored his two granddaughters Emma and Eva also of Milwaukee.

Special thanks to Dr. Paul Bejarano who always told DeLons how well he was doing given his heart condition and to Casa de la Luz Hospice who allowed him to stay at home until the end.