Herman Knappe

HERMAN E. KNAPPE

Cedar Rapids

Herman E. Knappe, 97, of Cedar Rapids, passed away

Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, at Cottage Grove Place in Cedar Rapids. The family will greet friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 361 17th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.

Memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. at the church. Inurnment will take place at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wis., at a later date.

Survivors include his son, David (Diane) of Beach, N.D.; grandson, John E. Knappe; granddaughter, Sare Knappe; and great-grandson, Kasey, all of Milwaukee.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Ella; wives, Mildred and Marie; and his sister, Henrietta (Johnson).

Herman was born July 11, 1920, to Ella (Kleist) and Edwin W. Knappe. He grew up in Milwaukee, Wis., graduating from Rufus King High School in 1938 and the School of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1942. Herman married Mildred Schoenemann in 1943. He moved to Cedar Rapids in the late 1950s when Cherry Burrell moved its plant from Milwaukee to Cedar Rapids. Mildred and Herman raised their son, David, there, where they were active in Cedar Rapids First Congregational Church and both sang in the choir. He was a member of Cedar Rapids Optimists Club. While working for Cherry Burrell, Herman was awarded two patents. He was a professional engineer, registered in Wisconsin.

After retiring, Herman worked part time for ASTEC. In his spare time, he volunteered at the Lekotek Program, where he modified toys for children with special needs. Herman and Mildred also trained to become Master Gardeners and, in 1993, they were named Linn County Master Gardeners of the Year. They traveled around the globe, including trips to Egypt, China and Russia, until Mildred's death in 2002.

Herman moved to Cottage Grove Place, where he met Rebecca Marie Babbitt. They were married in 2005.

Please share a memory of Herman at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.