Helen Knapp

Helen Knapp age 94 of Charles City, IA, died Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at her home surrounded by her family.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 6, 2022, at Hugeback – Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory – Olson Chapel with Pastor Paul Phillips presiding. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Nashua, IA with Jared Knapp, Ben Damjanovic, Dave Knapp, Jeremy Knapp, Chris Engel, Terry Engel, Travis Hites, and Curt Engel as Pallbearers.

Friends may greet the family from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, at Hugeback – Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory – Olson Chapel in Nashua, IA. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Helen Jane Knapp was born Jan. 31, 1928, in Chickasaw County, Iowa, the daughter of John and Bertha (Janssen) Kraft. Helen attended rural country schools in Chickasaw County, and the Ionia and Nashua schools.

On Dec. 28, 1945, Helen was united in marriage to Lowell M. Knapp in Austin Minnesota. Lowell and Helen subsequently lived in several communities, including Horton, Ionia, the Amana Colonies, and eventually Charles City.

Helen earned her GED and LPN License in nursing from North Iowa Area Community College in 1969. She was a nurse’s aide for many years in Charles City nursing homes before getting her GED and LPN License. She later worked at Chautauqua Guest Homes in Charles City as an LPN. After retiring, she worked as a hospice nurse and volunteered at the Treasure Chest and the food bank in Charles City.

The highlight of her Spring were the seed catalogs that arrived in the mail. That’s when she planned the summer garden and the canning that would follow. The last few years were devoted to embroidering pillow cases, quilt blocks, dresser scarves, dishtowels, and aprons. Crossword puzzles and word scrambles filled her time at the kitchen table. The Waterloo Courier paper boy took some heat when the paper was late getting to her door. She spent 51 years a widow and kept her incredible memory intact right up to the end.

Helen is survived by a brother Richard (Vera) Kraft of Clarksville and two sons: Allen (Jo) Knapp of Nashua, Iowa and Randy (Cindy) Knapp of Charles City, Iowa, and three daughters, Andrea (Lyn) Hites of Nashua, Iowa, Jolene (Terry) Engel of Clarksville, Iowa, and Polly Chuick of Charles City, Iowa. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Jared Knapp, David Knapp, Jeremy Knapp, Kiane Hites Lippold, Travis Hites, Shelby Runice, Kurt Engel, Kris Engel, Terry Engel, Ben Damjanovic and Mariah Damjanovic-Sharon; five step-grandchildren: Luke Damjanovic, Jerad Damjanovic, Bronson Damjanovic, Alicia Damjanovic, and Paul Damjanovic. Helen also has nine great-grandchildren: Kinsley Knapp, Ian Smith, Sydney Smith, Macey Runice, Trace Engel, Corbin Engel, Connor Engel, Caleb Engel, Milan Damjanovic; and eight step-great-grandchildren: J.C. Ulrich, Trae Ulrich, Avery Berding, Graham Berding, Piper Berding, Eva, Ella, and Emma Damjanovic.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Lowell in 1971; an infant son Jody Knapp in 1959; four brothers: Marvin Kraft, Leroy Kraft, Merlin Kraft, and Kenny Kraft; three sisters: Beverly Winkie, Shirley Day and Eileen Kraft.