Knapp, Wilma M. (Sproston)

Wilma M. (Sproston) Knapp, 91, of Garnett Place, Cedar Rapids, formerly of Springville, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 7, 2013, at St. Luke's Hospice in Cedar Rapids. Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 11, at Springville Presbyterian Church, Springville, by the Rev. Dr. Karen Downey Beals and Chaplain Jeremy Hudson. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, and one hour before the service Thursday at the church. Graveside: 2 p.m. Thursday at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Wilma was born Nov. 16, 1921, in Solon, Iowa, to Ambrose Wilbur and Viola (Becker) Sproston. On Aug. 21, 1940, Wilma married her beloved James E. Knapp at her parents' home in Mount Vernon, Iowa.

She had so much artistic talent and enjoyed embroidering, sketching, painting Easter eggs and making boutique Christmas balls. She loved nature and the outdoors, gardening, her flowers, taking walks with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and having “tea parties” with them. Wilma dearly loved cooking and baking for the family and was known for her delicious pies. She loved watching and following her grandchildren and great-grandchildren's activities.

She was a 50 plus year member of Springville Presbyterian Church, where she and Jim served as youth leaders.

Surviving is her son, Gary and Sharon Knapp of Marion; grandchildren, Tammy and Scott Kelly of Alpharetta, Ga. and Ron and Kim Knapp of Marion; and great-grandchildren, Dustin and Jessica Franklin of Coralville, Josh Kelly of Alpharetta, Ga., Beth Knapp and Ben Knapp of Marion, Mariah Kelly of Alpharetta, Ga. and Maddie Knapp of Marion.

Also surviving is her brother, Larry (Janelle) Sproston of Lisbon; brothers-in-law, Lester Mikulecky of Cedar Rapids and Paul Plass of Lombard, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, James; her brother, William; her sisters, Mabel Conner and Maxine Mikulecky; and her nephew, Craig Sproston.

Wilma was a devoted Christian woman, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She said, “I came into the world in simple surroundings, and will leave it the same way.”

The family would like to thank Dr. Naser Payvandi, Dr. John Roof, the nurses on Three Center and the St. Luke's Hospice Care Floor (the short time she was there) for their compassionate and tender care given to Wilma.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Luke's Hospice Unit or Springville Presbyterian Church in Wilma's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Wilma at under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette July 9, 2013.