Harry Walter Knapp Jr.

H. Walter Knapp Jr., 78, returned to his Heavenly Father late Wednesday, February 25, 2015, surrounded by his family at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, Idaho. Walter was born January 30, 1937 at his home in Cub River, Idaho, the son of Harry W. and Cora Roxy Porter Knapp. He was the 6^th of nine children in the happy and loving family with two brothers and six sisters: Kenneth (Charlene) Knapp, Howard Knapp, Adra (Thayne) Harris, Cora Louise (Owen) Parkinson, Evelyn (Kwen) Griffeth, Marjorie (Bruce) Hobbs, LaPreal (Thomas) Ware, and Coleen (Bruce) McCammon.

               Walter grew up on the family farm he would eventually claim as his own. He attended his early years of school in Mapleton, then moved on to the Franklin school before graduating from Preston High School. He was active in Football and Basketball, but thrived in FFA. Serving in the chapters leadership for two years and then became the organization’s president.

               After graduation Walter worked as a bus driver, worked construction on Preston High, worked at Franklin Co Sugar Factory, but farming was his passion. He met and married his eternal sweetheart Sharon Shumway of Treasureton, Idaho. Together they raised eleven children on their family farm; Blair (Verlene) Knapp, Dewayne Knapp, Karla (Bryce) Green, Marlene (Sid) Jensen, Darlene (Troy) Wing, Carol (Layne) Bingham, Eldon Knapp, Margret (Kurt) Iverson, Brent (Bridgett) Knapp, Natalie (Terry) Hansen, and Kyle (Marie) Knapp. These wonderful parents now have 41 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

               Walter was an active member in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where he served in three Bishoprics, on the stake High Council, then as a Bishop, and for six years as a temple worker in the Logan, Utah, LDS Temple.

               His favorite hobbies were hunting, fishing, growing a garden, attending sporting events, telling stories, and organizing and hosting community, church, family, and school reunions. Walter was never successful at keeping his grandchildren from grabbing his first ripe tomato of the harvest. He enjoyed catching a grandchild in his garden, yet nobody ever left without several grocery sacks of produce.

               He was a very supportive parent. Rarely did any of his children play in a ball game that he was not in attendance. He loved Preston Athletics and even recently could be found walking his pregame laps before the game would tip-off.

               Walter Knapp’s cabin is notorious for hosting family reunions, girl’s camps, ward parties, business socials, family nights, and school class reunions. If the cabin was full of people, then Walter was grinning with joy.

               Although his friends and family will miss him dearly, we know he has gone to a happy reunion with family and friends. Walter is survived by his wife Sharon, two sisters; Marjorie Hobbs and Coleen McCammon, ten of eleven of his children, and forty of forty-one grandchildren. Walter was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Cora Knapp, brothers Howard and Kenneth, sisters Adra Harris, Louise Parkinson, Evelyn Griffeth, and LaPreal Ware.

               Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at the Mapleton Church. A viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Monday evening at Webb Funeral Home, 1005 South 800 East, Preston and from 9:30 to 10:30 at the Mapleton Church. Burial will be in the Mapleton Cemetery.  Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.webbmortuary.com