David Knapp Sr. died at the age of 60, at the Wichita V.A. Center, October 29th, 2009, on Thursday morning, at 10:35 A.M. in I.C.U., complications of Heart Disease. When he was born, his mother died two days later, of childbirth complications, him and his brother were raised by his mother's mother, their grandmother. His grandmother had raised 13 of her own children, and 22 kids altogether, the others being grandkids. Her husband, Dave's grandpa, died when he was 8, hit by a train, he worked in the Railroad yards. His father reclaimed him when he was 9, and his brother was 12. But his stepmother drove a wedge between them and his father, very jealous and controlling, also abusive. His brother died in 1966 at the age of 20, a month before he was 21, was in Law School at the time and engaged to be married, he died of spinal cancer. His brother had went to high school with Gayle Sayers, and was friends with him and his family, the future Legendary Football Player for the Chicago Bears. They also attended his brothers Funeral. Dave had a G.E.D. through the Army and was prior service. He spent 12 active years in the Army, which included Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Weisbaden, Germany, Fort Dix, New Jersey, Fort Leonardwood, Missouri, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Fort Knox, Kentucky, Fort Greeley, Alaska, and Fort Hood, Texas. His first tour of service was an M.P., his last 9 years he spent as an Army Cook. While he was on his last few years, he had a heart attack out in the field at age 32, and was sent to Fort Sam Houston Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, he had two heart caths, the first one failed, with complications.

His health steadily declined when he was honorably discharged in 1984. He was under a doctors care on and off since then, with several health issues. He served 9 years Civil Service for the Federal Government at Fort Sheridan in the Chicago area, till they closed down. We called the Chicago area home, where I was born and raised, near my family. My parents adored him and he adored them, giving him a real sense of family. When Fort Sheridan closed, we moved to Wichita, Kansas, in 1994, to settle near his childhood buddy, Richard, and his family. Dave held several jobs, including with Pony Express, but his health kept declining. In 2006 he suffered a massive Heart Attack, where he was actually clinically dead for 30 seconds, but they revived him, breaking a couple of his ribs. That Heart Attack shut down his kidneys, which led to Kidney Disease, he needed dialysis three times a week. He had to go on Social Security Disability for the past three years, became weaker and tired easily. He lost almost a hundred pounds in three years time. When we went to Amusement Parks or the Zoo, had to rent him a wheel chair to get around, he couldn't walk far or stand too much, without collapsing. 2006 he was hospitalized 10 times, 5 times in Intensive Care. But we never gave up hope, we both fought till the end. He still drove to the very last day. He was in the Hospital three times this year, of 2009. Had a heart attack on Fathers Day, and another one in September. The last heart cath failed and his three heart stents were closing up. He needed a multiple-bypass and two new heart valves. They scheduled him for Open-Heart Surgery at the Denver V.A. and had an Air-Ambulance on standby. Then he developed pneumonia, gave him a 20% chance of surviving surgery. They sent him home on a medical regiment, basically increased meds at higher doses, about 15 different prescriptions daily. He went back in the hospital three weeks later, throwing up blood, needed 5 blood transfusions, had a blood infection, all his organs were failing. Over the years he had 7 heart attacks, 11 heart caths, and three stents. He endured alot, but fought to live, to the end.

He enjoyed his Base Station C.B., his handle was Dr. Pepper, use to be Polar Bear, during his military days. He also enjoyed Bowling, was in Leagues for years, he enjoyed Golf, Chess, Cribbage, Fishing, and Camping. He also was a die-hard Chicago Cub Fan and Chicago Bear Fan and Nebraska Cornhusker Fan. He loved making Spagetti or Chili, he also enjoyed Pizza.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Charletta (Himberger) Knapp-1948, his brother, Donald Knapp Jr.-1966, his father, Donald Knapp Sr.of a brain infection-1993, his half-sister, Kathy (Knapp) Schulte, who died at the age of 57, of a massive stroke, earlier the same year-2009. He is survived by: His wife of 38 years, Bonnie (Clayman) Knapp, of Wichita, Kansas, his daughter, Traci Lynn Knapp-37, of Oak Forest, Illinois, his two sons, David Knapp Jr.-35, of Wichita, Kansas, Steve Howard Knapp-32, of Wichita, Kansas, his only grandchild, granddaughter-Destiny Marie Aitchison-4 yrs. old, of Augusta, Kansas, lifelong family friends spanning four decades, Richard and Sue Bernt, of Bel Aire, Kansas, and their daughter, Jennie Martin, of Bel Aire, Kansas, and his beloved Canine Companion and amatuer Service Dog, a 2 year old female Black Lab, Pepper. Was Cremated, Cremains interred in Memorial Wall with a Plaque, had Military Funeral with Honors. Honor Guard from Fort Riley, Kansas, was there. His Memorial Service was on Friday, November 6th, 2009, at 1:00 P.M.