Gordon Knapp

1922 - 2022

James Gordon Knapp

James Gordon Knapp, 99, of Palo Alto passed away at his home on February 20, 2022. The fourth generation Californian was born March 19, 1922 in San Francisco to James E. and Mabel Knapp. After graduating from Galileo he attended Stanford University earning a degree in Political Science and finishing early so he could fight in WWII. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served two years aboard the USS Louisville CA28 where he was assigned as the officer in charge of the Automatic Weapons Division. The "Lucky Lou" fought in the Battle of Leyte Gulf and then two months later headed to Lingayen Gulf to protect the troops landing where it was hit by two kamikaze killing Rear Admiral Chandler and 42 men. Gordon received 7 battle stars, 2 stars for Philippine Liberation and 1 star for Navy Unit Commendation. While the ship was in Mare Island for repairs he met and married Mary Cooper of St. Louis and they moved to Texas while he was in Naval Air Training. They had 3 children, Jim, Cathleen and Barbara. Gordon was very active in the family businesses of Wielands Beer and the Calso Water Company and in his spare time earned both a general contractor's and a broker's license. Meanwhile he was creating other business partnerships which built everything from the first high-rise in Palo Alto, a hotel in Sunnyvale, office buildings, townhouses to homes in Atherton. He later married Elaine Lange who had 4 children Bill, Arthur, Sara and Ada from a previous marriage. He went back to Stanford to earn an MBA and also ran for Congress twice. After his congressional runs he was asked to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Installations and Logistics) by President Ford and was granted the status of Four Star General by then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. With such a full life he is very proudly remembered and honored by those who survive him. His wife Elaine, his children Jim Knapp, Cathleen Dorinson and Barbara Romandia, his step-children Bill Lange, Arthur Lange, and Sara Harris, and his eight grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter. A Service will be held at St. Raymond's in Menlo Park on Saturday, March 5th at 10 a.m. Donations in his name may be made to a charity of your choosing.