James Robert Knaup

He is preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette (nee Pita) Knaup (Married April 11, 1955), his parents, William and Greta (nee Givens) Knaup, sister, Barbara Daroci; mother-in-law, Johanna Pita, and grandson, Michael J. Knaup.

Left to cherish his memory are his brothers, William (the late Phyllis) Knaup, and Louis “Butch” (Rose) Miller; sister-in-law, Lillian Ewing; children, Elizabeth Knaup of Pottstown, PA; Michael (Robin) Knaup of Lyman, ME; Joseph (Patricia) Knaup of Columbia, IL; Theresa (Tomas) Sabaduquia of Clinton, IL; and Ann (the late John) Van Horn of Belleville, IL; grandchildren, Kelle (Ed) Potter, Christopher (Molly) Knaup, Jack (Becky) Hunt, Brandon (Monica) Cadell, Anthony (Jamie) Knaup, Zachary (Suzy) Knaup, Kelly (Brian) Dugan, Jacob (Shelby) Knaup, Christina (Dustin) Hite, Lisa (Matt) Groves, and Angela Sabaduquia; great grandchildren, Max, Caleb, and Ashleigh Potter, Felicity and Adelaide Knaup, Destiney Wade and Michael Knaup II, Dylan, Bella, and Johnny Knaup, Malayna, Savanna, and Brooklynn Knaup, Lucy, Charlie, and Claire Dugan, Rachel Knaup, Kristin and Kaylynn Hite, and Addi, Jenna, and Calvin Groves; great-great grandchildren, Bentley, Ali, and Everleigh; and, family friend and caregiver, Heather Goddard.

Jim joined the United States Coast Guard at the young age of 17. He and his family enjoyed duty stations in California, Maine, New York and St. Louis, before he retired with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer in 1980. Jim then joined the private sector as an electrician with Bradford Electric Company in East St. Louis, Illinois, until his retirement in 2005.

Jim was a member of Holy Family Parish in Cahokia, along with his wife and children. He was a long-standing member of the Cahokia Knights of Columbus Council 4596 and served as the council’s Financial Officer. He enjoyed fishing, barbequing, watching NCIS, and a life-long love affair with all flavors of ice cream. Jim was a devoted family man who took pride in being a strong role-model to multiple generations of his family. Jim’s quick smile, jovial personality and enduring generosity will be greatly missed by those who loved him.