Dennis Trevor Knapp

Dennis Trevor Knapp was born on July 24th, 1942, in a small town surrounded by farming, Monmouth, Illinois. He often said he learned many things from his father. He learned to respect his elders, he learned the value of work and a strong work ethic. Dennis began to work at age 10 when his father began teaching him to work in his trucking business. Dennis learned to operate equipment like tractors, trucks and elevators. At age eleven, while he was driving his father's truck spreading fertilizer in a field while his father on the side of the truck, he hit a stump. This caused extensive damage to the truck and threw his father off of the truck onto the muddy field. Fortunately, his father was not injured and the truck was repairable. It did, however, take a large military-style wrecker to get the truck out of the muddy field.

Dennis also worked with his Dad on construction jobs where he learned to use jack hammers and began to perform heavy lifting. From roofing to mechanics, from painting to carpentry, Dennis’ father taught him many skills. Dennis always adored his father and appreciated the skills he had learned from him.

Dennis graduated from Monmouth High School in May of 1960. After graduation, he moved to Naples, FL with his parents and younger sister. While in Naples Dennis worked for Naples Steel and First Florida Conditioned Air before returning to Monmouth, IL in the fall of 1961.

In November 1961, Dennis along with two classmates, Don Ray and "Whitey" Jefferson enlisted in the Air Force. Dennis completed basic training as Lackland Air Force Base (San Antonio, TX). He was then sent to Army Engineers School at Ft. Belvoir, VA where he trained as a surveyor. Upon completion of survey school, Dennis was assigned to his first permanent base at Hill Air Force Base (Ogden, UT). While stationed at Hill Field, Dennis met his future wife, Karla Faye Eskridge. They married in Elko, NV on November 1, 1963. Their son, Dennis Parker, was born on February 5, 1965. Their daughter, Sheri Danielle, was born exactly five years later on February 5, 1970.

In early 1971 the young family was reassigned to Howard Air Force Base (Panama Canal Zone). It was there that Dennis met Marcus Miramontes, a fellow service member, who shared a love of country music. It was Mark who took the time to teach Dennis how to play a few chords on the guitar. They would go on to play music together many times while stationed in Panama. Although their military careers took them to separate assignments they stayed in touch and remained lifelong friends.

In 1973 Dennis changed career fields from survey to safety. 1974 brought reassignment to Barksdale Air Force Base (Bossier City, LA), part of Strategic Air Command (SAC) and home to the 2nd Bomb Wing where Dennis was tasking with ground and aircraft safety. With the move also came a new opportunity for Dennis to continue developing his love of country music. He learned to write songs and had two of his works featured on the Louisiana Hayride radio program. Dennis also performed on the live show in person on several occasions during their time in Louisiana.

1978 saw the family reassigned to Malmstrom Air Force Base (Great Falls, MT) with the 341st Strategic Missile Wing and Dennis’ transition to nuclear weapon safety and Minuteman Missiles. Dennis continued playing country music in and around Great Falls and the family took frequent weekend trips to explore the natural beauty of the northern Rocky Mountains.

In 1980, Dennis was devastated to learn his father was stricken with terminal lung cancer. As the sole surviving male heir, Dennis requested humanitarian reassignment to the nearest base to his parents’ home in rural, western Illinois. So it was that the family moved to Chanute Air Force Base (Rantoul, IL) where Dennis continued his safety career and spent all of his non-military time caring for his father and helping his mother with the family antique business. Sadly, his father passed away on Dennis’ 40th birthday in 1981.

By 1982 Air Force obligations forced a move to the South Pacific island of Guam where Dennis continued his ground/aircraft safety career as well as pursuit of his musical interests. In 1984 Dennis and Karla agreed that it was time to leave military life behind. By that time, Dennis had served 22 years and, in doing so, secured a modest retirement and medical benefits. Karla was offered a position with her then current employer at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (Tucson, AZ). Dennis Parker had recently graduated from high school and Sheri would be starting high school in the fall of the next school year. So the family relocated to Tucson where Dennis secured his first civilian safety job with a window fabrication/installation company. The following years were mostly uneventful aside from Dennis Parker choosing to enlist in the Air Force and Sheri graduating high school.

In 1990, Dennis was offered a Safety Director position with Allied-Signal Aerospace in Phoenix, AZ. Dennis often said it was the best job he’d ever had. In early December 1991, Dennis’ mother passed away at age 70 like his father had before her. Dennis and Karla drove across country in his Mazda pickup and arrived to horribly cold and windy conditions. Ethel was laid to rest in -30 degree wind chill factor which left many family members suffering intensely at the grave site.

Dennis and Karla left Arizona in 1993 following 6 rounds of corporate downsizing at Allied-Signal Aerospace. Dennis accepted a reduction-in-force package that included six month’s full pay and allowances. He and Karla traveled across the southern U.S. with an intended destination of Naples, FL. An unexpected stop at Eglin Air Force Base (Ft. Walton Beach, FL) brought a change of plans and a decision by Dennis and Karla to take up residence in Navarre, FL close by the sugary white sand beaches of Holly by the Sea and the warm, emerald waters of the Gulf Coast. About two years later, following a two-week visit by their grandchildren, Dennis and Karla decided to look for an opportunity to be closer to their son and his children in North Carolina. Dennis secured a Safety Director position with a large food distribution company, Merchants Distributors Inc. (MDI) in Hickory, NC. Although Dennis later worked for Mecklenburg County and the City of Gastonia in his capacity and Director of Safety, Dennis and Karla continued living in Hickory where they had finally put down roots.

In addition to his love of music, Dennis enjoyed writing and did much of it in his work. He authored several policies subsequently adopted by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). He also wrote many articles for newspaper publication.

Dennis believed that life is all about choices. He believed strongly that we all have choice to make and that those choices affect not only our own lives but also the lives of those we love and care about. Dennis asked that people take the time to carefully consider their choices and to encourage family and friends to do the same. He believed in treating people with compassion. Don’t hurt your friend or family, and don’t lie to them either. Honesty is a virtue but not when it is used to hurt. Dennis recalled how a family member thought it was their responsibility to tell people what they really thought even if it hurt their feelings in the process. Dennis didn’t believe in that at all. He always said that if you care about people, show them that you do in everything you say and do.

Dennis is survived by Karla Knapp, his wife of 61 years, their son, Dennis Knapp (Wadesboro, NC) and daughter, Sheri Knapp (Lenoir, NC), two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren as well as his lifelong friend, Marcus Miramontes (Fairfield, CA).

Dennis was preceded in death by his Parents, Francis Henry and Ethel Amelia Knapp, infant brother, Gary Knapp, and sisters Sandra Johnson and Francie Ann Harrison. Dennis will be interred at Biggsville Cemetery (Biggsville, IL) at a later date.