Philipp Knapp, age 71, of Yankton passed away on January 10th. He courageously battled prostate cancer for nine years sustained by friendships and never losing his love of life. Phil was born in Chicago Illinois to Ruth and Phillip Knapp March 3rd 1936. He was baptized and confirmed in the Immanuel United Church of Christ. His childhood was filled with memories of playing softball and basketball with friends in the streets and alleys of his neighborhood. He graduated with perfect attendance from Calumet High School in 1954. He joined the United States Navy and served in Newfoundland. He was recruited to Yankton College to play basketball and graduated in 1961. He later received a Masters Degree in Counseling from the University of South Dakota. Phil taught in Chicago, Rapid City and Denver. He married his wife Dona in1965 at Trinity Lutheran Church. They met in Yankton over a Christmas holiday when she visited home from college and he had remained in Yankton to play in a holiday basketball tournament. In 1966, after residing and working in Denver, Phil and Dona returned to Yankton where Phil joined his father-in-law Mike Imig in his vending business. Phil cherished his co-workers and their days were filled with conversation and fun. Phil later purchased the vending route serving the University of South Dakota. He enjoyed working in the University environment especially with the students he employed throughout the years, many who came from other countries.
Following his retirement Phil kept busy with many activities including US census taker, substitute teacher, and evaluator at the Yankton Federal Prison Camp always enjoying the new people the met. He loved to read and visit the library. Each year he sought to find new and interesting books and increase the number of books he read. In the heat of the summer Phil was outside keeping up the yard, building with his hands, or hitting a golf ball. At the end of the day, Phil loved to visit a favorite pub for conversation and a cool draft brew, preferably stout. He took great pleasure in food; favorites were his wife's enchiladas, neighbor's Italian spaghetti, Blacksteer ribs, Charlie's pizza, and Panchos' shrimp and snapper. On the top of his list was the crispy paper thin Wiener schnitzel at Figmuellers in Vienna. He once drove 400 extra kilometers to have lunch there.
A major focus of Phil's life was sports, which he loved both as a player and a fan. In Chicago, he excelled in high school and junior college basketball and was nicknamed Dynamite. He experienced the crowd chanting over and over "Ohlson. Siegel, Knapp" as his team went on to victory. At Yankton College, he was known for his famous hook shot and his elbows, which he used defensively now and then. He was chosen most valuable player in both 1960 and 196l. A capstone was his 2004 induction into the Yankton College Hall of Fame and recognition as a "Greatest of the Greats" in YC basketball. Phil never bragged about his basketball accomplishments always talking about the talents of his teammates. As a young teen spectator in Chicago he and friends found ways to attend professional and college sporting events including the Chicago Blackhawks. They would hang around a stadium until some sympathetic individual, often a police officer, gave them tickets. Throughout his life, Phil and his wife took great pleasure in attending sporting events including Cubs and White Sox Playoff games, the first Cubs night game, a Twins World Series, and most recently the Rockies playoff games in Denver. Always pursuing his love of sports, he enjoyed beginning his day at 6AM with the "Mike and Mike" morning sports show.
Another major focus was seeing the world. His eyes , donated on his death, saw most of the wonders of the world. He and his wife traveled the world independently often on a shoestring. They sought out unusual places the farther away and less traveled the better. They traveled to China, Russia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and South America before they became popular destinations. Mazatlan Mexico was a favorite winter destination. New Years Eve 2000 was celebrated with friends on the beach under the stars at Panchos'. A special highlight was the year they lived in Jordan and the opportunity to explore the Middle East. While his wife taught at a Jordanian University in the middle of the desert, Phil would daily travel nine miles by bus to the town of Irbid to pick up supplies. As he went from one little shop to another he became friends with shopkeepers who always invited him for tea and conversation. Camping out under the stars at Wadi Rum (Lawrence had nothing on Phil); celebrating Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, and numerous adventurous jaunts between Jordan and Israel provided special lasting memories. Last year while fighting cancer and between chemotherapy treatments, Phil enjoyed visiting Greenland and Iceland on a cruise from England to Canada.
A final legacy of Phil's was the quiet way he made, valued, and nourished friendships throughout his life Family and neighbors were very special. A day did not go by when he didn't talk about his friends. Keeping in touch often involved writing notes and sending crazy mementos. Throughout his illness he continued to add to his wealth of friendships including the wonderful caregivers at Avera Hospital and the Yankton Medical Clinic. He developed special relationships with many who cared for him. They gave him a treasured gift as they were able to maintain his dignity in his final days.
Finally, anyone who knew Phil experienced his love of animals. He rescued many pets and lovingly cared for them. A starving little cat jumped in his golf cart on the Springfield golf course and spent the next 17 years sleeping on his shoulder. Little Joe visited Phil in the hospital on his final day. Phil's little dog , Bentley, brought him great pleasure in recent years. Walking Bentley was not a task but an adventure with stories to tell when they got home. He purchased a camper so Bentley could travel with him and Dona throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico. At his home he loved watching and feedings the birds, turkeys, and deer who visited daily.
Phil is preceded in death by his mother, father, only brother Reverend Robert Knapp, sister-in-law Dorothy Knapp, his Chicago uncles and aunt, two brothers-in-law, and father-in-law , Mike Imig, with whom he had a special relationship. He is survived by his wife and best friend of 43 years, Dona, his loving mother-in-law Irene Imig, four sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law and eleven nieces and nephews.
Memorials can be made to a charity of your choice or will be used for a bronze sculpture being commissioned in Phil's honor. The sculpture will be placed in Yankton to be enjoyed by the community. A future memorial service will be held to celebrate Phil's life. If you visit www.christapken.com (Dec. 15th post) you will find a loving tribute from a nephew.
Arrangements are under the care of the Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton.
