Alan "Al" E. Knapp

Al Knapp was a father, husband, brother, son, but most of all, Al was a friend.

When asked to describe who Al was, we would likely think of different parts of his personality. His siblings might describe him as a caring person and a jokester. His friends might think of Al as personable and generous and when he was around, you couldn't help but enjoy yourself. Customers would think of Al as friendly and knowledgeable. But everyone that knew Al felt that he was a fun person that was comfortable and easy to be around. In a sense, he was a combination of all of these qualities.

Al's life began on June 10, 1954, in Sturgis, Michigan. He was the third child of Harold and Ethel (Snook) Knapp. Al joined his older siblings Karen and Bill, and was followed by younger sisters Dawn and Lynn in the Knapp's Sturgis home. As a young boy he enjoyed chasing around and teasing his little sisters, as all boys do. His father was a hardworking man for the railroad, like Al's grandfather and uncle, too, and gone on the road most of the time. So Al's mother was charged with caring for the home and raising the five children.

When Al was 11 years old, the family moved to Portage, where as a young man, he spent more time in the bathroom primping than his sisters did. In the Portage Schools he made many friends who would become lifelong buddies.

After graduating from Portage Northern, Al left home and moved into a house on Centre Street with a bunch of his buddies, including his best friend, Frank Wippel. Al was working in the parts department at Orrin B. Hayes automotive dealership (one of countless jobs he had in his early lifetime), which helped pay his share of the rent and supported his extensive social life. The house on Centre was a popular place for parties, with a large pool in the back. While living there, Al and his friends formed an organization which is still in existence today, entitled CRUST. (Citizens Restoring United States Trust)

Eventually, Al and some friends decided to move to Sacramento, California, looking for adventure. He took a job as a locksmith, and had plenty of fun there, too. He stayed in California for three or four years, before he decided to move back to the Kalamazoo area.

After his return to Michigan, Al enrolled at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and later Western Michigan University. In 1985 he earned his degree in business administration. While attending school, he took a job working for Farm Bureau.

In the fall of 1987, Al met a young woman named Connie, who he spotted at a Halloween party. They talked that night, but didn't start dating until the following summer. Once they got going, however, the sparks flew between them, and on June 17, 1989 they were married after a yearlong courtship. The newlyweds celebrated with a Caribbean cruise for their honeymoon.

The couple ended up living in the Lawton home where Connie was raised. It was a wonderful home, complete with the pool Al loved so much. Al even enlisted his family and buddies to help him build a pool house from plans he drew up on a paper napkin!

Al continued working for Farm Bureau for awhile, before accepting a sales position for Bradley Caldwell, Inc., which was a distributor of pet and garden supplies. Al had a large, tri-state territory to cover, but he enjoyed driving and visiting with his customers. While working for Bradley Caldwell, he was able to earn a trip to Cancun and a trip to Jamaica which were both special times for Al and Connie.

Al and Connie had three wonderful children, Nathan, Angie and A.J. He was so excited to have kids. Being a big kid himself, he loved to wrestle around with them, rolling around on the floor. He also taught them to swim and dive, and was always in the pool with the kids. Al also never missed one of his kid's soccer games, either. Al was so proud of his three children.

They did much as a family, too, especially camping. Al loved camping, and had a little pop-up camper in the early years, followed by a trailer. He loved to do it up right, especially cooking a big breakfast. Al was always an early riser, and got up to have his morning coffee and read the paper before everyone else, especially when he was camping, when he'd get up and start breakfast. He loved nothing more than to have his eggs floating in bacon grease! He enjoyed the whole camping experience, from the campfires, to the quiet time, to playing cards with the kids.

Al always loved kids, and was a terrific uncle, as well. Whenever he baby-sat, he'd tell them if they didn't go to bed, he'd shave their heads, just like "Uncle Buck," - one of his favorite movies. In fact, his nieces and nephews called him Uncle Buck!

Al wasn't without a serious side, however. He was very involved and active in his community, and even served on the Lawton Planning Commission from 1990-1994, and served on the Village Council from 1994-2007. He understood the importance of these roles, and took his job very seriously.

When he wasn't working, Al was always playing, or entertaining. He loved to play golf, and cards (Al was an exceptional euchre player). Cards are a family tradition around the holidays in the Knapp family, and Al was a "shark". Al also enjoyed just tinkering around the house with his tools, never afraid to try something new. If he messed something up, he'd exclaim one of his trademark catchphrases, like "Suck eggs!" or "Jeez 'O Pete!" But he always kept a sense of humor about everything.

Sadly, Al was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2005, and after a brave battle with the disease, he died on Tuesday, May 15, 2007, at his home, at the age of 52.

Al was such a wonderful man, a fun-loving man so beloved by one and all. He was a loving husband and father, devoted public servant and faithful friend. Most of all, Al was a man who knew that life should be enjoyed, and taught us to do the same. He will be so greatly missed.

Learn more about Al, view his Life Story film, and visit with family and friends Saturday from 3:00-7:00 PM at the Betzler & Thompson Life Story Funeral Home, M40 South of I-94, Paw Paw, 657-3870, where a service celebrating his life will be held Sunday at 3:00 PM. Interment Oak Grove Cemetery. He was preceded in death by his father. Members of his family include his wife Connie Knapp; 3 children: Nathan, Angie, and AJ.; his mother Ethel (Lewis) Brandt of Portage; 4 siblings: Karen (Leonard) Jury of Ashtabula, OH; Bill (Pam) Knapp of Chesapeake, VA; Dawn (Gregg) Johnson of Ft. Wayne, IN; and Lynn (Ron) Brookman of Schoolcraft; many nieces and nephews; and in-laws: Earl and Dolores Lawson of Lawton. Please visit Al's Memory Page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read his Life Story, share a memory or photo, sign the guest book, order flowers, or make a memorial contribution to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Lawton or Hospice Care of South West Michigan.