Thomas J. Knapp

Around 11:15 AM Sunday, September 18, 2022, Tom Knapp finally escaped the chains that bound him to this old world. He suffered from COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, end stage renal failure and Covid and his point of departure was Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, IA, with his wife of 37 years by his side.

Thomas Jerold Knapp was born June 4, 1941 to William Lloyd and Alma Ellen (Smiley) Knapp in Middletown, Ohio. He graduated from high school in Middletown in 1959.

He joined the Air Force in 1960 and reenlisted in 1963. During his service time in the military, he married Brenda Plumley and their son, Jay Lewis Knapp, was born in 1962. They divorced and Tom eventually married Penny Nickles. To this union was born a daughter Hope Renee Knapp. This marriage also ended in divorce.

Tom worked for several aircraft-related companies in the Burbank, CA area, including Burns Aero-Seat, and became a Lockheed employee in 1983. He met Martha (Farlow) Dorn there and they were married in August 1985. Her daughter Katy was added to the family unit. They worked as Manufacturing Planners in Burbank and eventually the plant in Palmdale, California. They lived in Quartz Hill, a small town nestled between Palmdale and Lancaster, and settled into life up in the High Desert. The air of clean and the poppies were beautiful during early spring.

Tom enjoyed deep sea fishing and playing golf. He and Marty were members of the Antelope Valley Camping Club and spent many weekends RVing with the group. Tom and his grandchildren spent many weekends dirt bike racing (motocross) and also on motorized bikes. Holidays at the Knapp home in Quartz Hill brought the members of both families together to share a meal, hunt Easter eggs, exchange Christmas gifts, and swim in the pool during the summertime. Tom and Marty retired in July 2014, and in May of 2015 they moved to Winterset, Iowa. (He had started dialysis treatments in January of 2015 and continued those treatments three times a week a half hour away after moving to Winterset). Tom joined Marty as a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and made many new friends there. He loved watching the Golf Channel and the movies (old musicals and newer action films). During the past couple years, he spent a lot of time on the deck at their home in Winterset, soaking up the sun and just enjoying the beautiful weather.

Tom is survived by his wife Marty; son Jay (Andrea) Knapp, daughters Katy Dorn and Hope Schiavello; grandchildren Samantha Knapp, Chelsea Dorn (Mark Anderson), Chris Dorn, Chase Dorn, Garrett Schiavello (Dani Sayeg), Joey Schiavello, Crystal Schiavello (Breanna Hunt); great-grandchildren Brook and Emma Bonner, Joseph Schiavello V, and Tristen and Penny Slayton. In addition, he will be missed and remembered by his brother-in-law Frank Farlow, sister-in-law Rosalie Noland, and his nephews and families in North Carolina, Ed (Lynn) Price and Jerry Price and relatives. He was predeceased by his mother Alma and sister Barbara Price, his previous wives Brenda and Penny Knapp and his granddaughter Valerie Schiavello.

No services are planned at this time. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.