Charles L. "Boots" Knapp

1933 - 2023

Charles L. "Boots" Knapp
Born: August 17, 1933 in Port Byron, IL
Died: February 25, 2023 in Iowa City, IA
Charles L. "Boots" Knapp, 89, of Port Byron, IL, passed away Saturday, February 25, 2023, at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA. Visitation was from 4 â€" 7 pm on Friday, March 3, 2023 at Gibson â€" Bode Funeral Home, Port Byron. Memorial Services were held at 10:30 am on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Fairfield United Methodist Church, Port Byron. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery, Port Byron. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family or to Fairfield United Methodist Church.
Boots was born August 17, 1933, on the family farm in Coe Township, Rock Island County, IL to Joseph S. and Iva M. (Ziegler) Knapp. He went to Pre-eminent School in Coe Township and then graduated from Cordova High School in 1952. He served in the U.S. Air Force 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (SAC Base) during the Korean Conflict. On September 30, 1956, he married Betty Ann Guldenpfennig, at Zion Lutheran Church, Hampton, IL and went on to raise three boys.
Boots farmed for 33 years, and was the proprietor of Knapp Realty and Auction Service for 45 years. He was known for holding many auctions in support of area charities. He also built and operated Knapp's Storage in Port Byron.
He was a member of Port Byron Coe-Lamb American Legion; the NRA; a 39 year member River Cities Rotary and was a Paul Harris Fellow, a member of Stewart Masonic Lodge #92, Geneseo, IL; and a proud life-long member of Fairfield United Methodist Church, Port Byron, IL.
In his lifetime, he was a founding committee member and Co-Committee Chair of the "Great River Tug" that has pitted Port Byron, IL against LeClaire, IA since 1987; a member of the Quad City Area Realtors; the Chair of the Rock Island County CO-OP Extension Service; President of River Cities Rotary 1988; President of the Cordova Lions Club; a member of the Cordova Village Board; Cordova Police Commissioner; a volunteer with the Cordova Fire Department; and President of the Real Estate Brokers Exchange.
He also assisted with the construction of the Riverdale High School agriculture building, advocated for the widening of the Port Byron-Hillsdale Road to improve safety for the Riverdale school buses, and created a gun-safety oriented 4H club for area youth.
He and his wife, Betty, brought "The Great Talking Pumpkin" to life, which has been a thrilling attraction for children and adults on Halloween night for 40 years.
Boots enjoyed family get togethers, teasing his grandchildren, enjoying "Adventures in Breakfast" with his son Gary, helping his sons Don and Roger with various home construction projects, and making his homemade ice cream that wasn't quite right until the right amount of vanilla had been added.
He also enjoyed spending time with his cat, singing old hymns at church, writing accounts of his youth in the 1930s and 1940s that were adapted into a series of stories in the Fairfield Newsletter.
Boots is survived by his 3 sons, Gary Knapp, Port Byron, Don (Heather) Knapp, Port Byron, Roger (Tammy) Knapp, Port Byron; grandchildren, Dustin (Jennifer) Knapp, Bettendorf, Summer (Austin) Hilligas, South Amana, IA, Zachery (Lexi) Knapp, Port Byron, Fox Knapp, Estes Park, CO; two great-grandchildren and one on the way; sisters, Phyllis Butterfield, Geneseo, Lois Arbor, Haysville, KS; sister-in-law, Connie Carlson, Geneseo; brother-in-law, Lee (Kathy) Guldenfennig, East Moline, and many well-loved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Betty; brother, Joseph W. Knapp, Danville, IL, and sister-in-law Rosaleen (Martini) Knapp, Danville, IL. Share a memory or condolence at www.gibsonbodefh.com