Kyle W. Knapp

Kyle W. Knapp, 43, of Wethersfield lost his long fight with cancer on Monday (December 19, 2005) and has left the fields, forests, oceans and open areas of this life for those where God is. Born in Hartford he was the cherished son of T. William Knapp, of Wethersfield and Virginia (King) Zox and step-son of her husband Lawrence Zox both of East Haddam. Kyle was raised in Wethersfield where he attended local schools, completing high school in the state's GED program. Employed as a ""First Mate"" on several fishing charter boats and by the Town of Wethersfield as a heavy equipment operator, he was disabled in 2000. An avid sportsman and outdoorsman, he hunted and fished, both in this area and internationally, his entire adult life. An accomplished taxidermist, artist and dog breeder, he most loved his time in the outdoors with his many, and deeply loved, Labrador Retrievers. A 30 year member of the Wethersfield Game Club, the National Rifle Association, the Connecticut Waterfowlers Association, the Wilderness Habitat Organization and Ducks Unlimited, he spent his free hours roaming the Wethersfield Meadows, woodlands, fields, farmlands and swamps with his dogs or sailing/boating on Lake Hayward fishing, or on both Long Island Sound and the ocean deep sea fishing for king size tuna and lobstering. In addition to his parents, Kyle leaves the love of his life and constant companion, Laura DeSantis of Wethersfield, and their several beloved Labrador Retrievers; three brothers, Eric A. and his wife, Eileen A. and their sons, Dylan W. and Andrew D. of Wethersfield; John L. of Wethersfield and Theron J. and his wife, Jacqueline and their children, T. Jason and Abigail R. of Trumbull; and a step-sister, Dawn L. and her husband, John Coggins and their children, Wynter Roth and Aemon F. Coggins. He also leaves aunts and uncles, Jessie King and Alva Lowe of Steuben, ME, Marilyn K. Davis of Tariffville, Elizabeth (Beth) Knapp of Wethersfield, John and Monica Knapp of Colchester and Larry and Gail Knapp of Danville, CA. He was pre-deceased by another uncle, Paul King of West Hartford. He also leaves many cousins, all of whom he held in great affection. He was also pre-deceased by his most beloved Labrador Retrievers ""Alpine"" and ""Greenpeace"" and his favorite Brittany, his father's ""Josh."" Relatives and friends are invited to call on Thursday, from 5-8 p.m. at D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield. Funeral services will be held on Friday December 23, at 10 a.m. in First Church of Christ Congregational, 250 Main St., Wethersfield with the Rev. Dr. J. Jey Deifell, Jr. officiating. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Ducks Unlimited, 3 Orange Pippin Rd., Sandy Hook, CT 06482 for their waterfowl habitat restoration fund. For on-line expressions of sympathy, please visit www.desopo.com.