Beatrice May Knapp

Beatrice May Knapp: Bea was surrounded by her family at her home in Oskaloosa when she went to be with her Lord, Saturday, October 3, 2009, at the age of 80 years, 9 months and 22 days. Bea's family includes her children: Joseph T. and Dianna Knapp of Ottumwa; Jerry James and Karen Knapp of Lovilia and Ramona Jo and Todd Braden of Cedar. She was blessed with fourteen grandchildren: Andrew, Adam, Nikki, Emily, Amanda, J.J., Amber, Kylee, Dawson, Macy, Terri, Joe, Missy and Deek and six great grandchildren: Anthony, Blake, Jeremy, Samuel, Joel and Alex. She is survived by a brother, Jim Templeton and a sister Wahneeta Knapp. Beatrice May Knapp, daughter of James Lewis and Mamie Ellen Taylor Scovel was born December 12, 1928 in Des Moines, Iowa. As a young woman she worked at Walgreen's Drug Store in Des Moines, Dean's Studio, and the Des Moines Hosiery Mill. She married Joseph Knapp, Jr. April 1, 1946 in Chariton, Iowa. She and Joe made their home in Newton, where they both worked at Maytag. Joe served in the Navy and then in the Air Force. His career in the military moved the family to numerous locations, including Pensacola, FL, Oklahoma City, OK, Ellsworth Air Force Base in SD, and Chanute Air Force Base near Rantoul, IL. While in Oklahoma, Beatrice worked as a chef at the Officer's Club at Altus, Oklahoma. Upon Joe's discharge from the military, they returned to Iowa where they settled in Albia, there Beatrice worked at Monroe Plastics. Later, she returned to school at Iowa Beauty School at Indian Hills Community College, earning her beautician's license; she was then able to open Bea's Family Hairstyling in her home in Albia. She worked as a beautician for 10 years, retiring in 1993. Joe passed away August 21, 1995. After her husbands death she began assisting handicapped residents in a group home in Albia, as well as teaching their Sunday school class for six years. She was a member of the Open Bible Church in Albia where she also taught Sunday school for various ages for many years and was involved in Bus Ministries for ten years. During this time she developed a friendship with Denny Nessley and his family; they went to Mardi Gras two successive years and Veisha at ISU for three years to win souls for Christ. She marched the streets, prayed for people and passed out tracts into her late 60's. After her move to Oskaloosa to be near her daughter, she transferred her membership to the First Assembly of God in Oskaloosa. Bea involved herself in the steering committee of the church's O.K. Bunch. She was very active in her churches' ministries and had a special passion for helping handicapped individuals. She enjoyed reading, sewing, crafts, fishing, boating, camping and gardening. Besides her parents and her husband, Bea was preceded in death by a grandson J.J. Knapp, a sister Mildred Flynn, three brothers, Lawrence Scovel, Jerry Templeton and Gyle Templeton, two brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law. PDF Printable Version

Beatrice May Knapp

December 12, 1928 - October 3, 2009