Angeline Marion Knapp

Angeline Marion Knapp, of Aurora, Colorado, passed away Monday, August 10, 2020, at the age of 96 at Sunrise Assisted Living, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Angie was born April 22, 1924, in Chicago, Illinois.  Daughter to the late Louis (Ludwik) Szewczyk & the late Anna Rose Jedrzejczyk Szewczyk; beloved wife of the late Norman Charles Knapp; loving mother of: Michael Knapp (Regina), Barbara Walkush (Gary), Paula Papi (Pat), Charles Knapp (Mia); cherished grandmother of: Anna Soldan (Tim), Debra Monterosso (Brandon), Kevin Knapp (Michelle), Liam Knapp, Ariana Papi (Joel), step-grandchildren David Ryan (Silvia), and Danielle Zaderaka (Jason); doting great-grandmother to: Soren, Norman Ignatius, Ryan Angeline, Chloe, Sean and step-great-grandchildren Sophia and Ella Rose; and survived by sister-in-law Naomi Finnicum (Lorin).
Angie was preceded in death by grandson Brendan Knapp and by her beloved husband of 67 years, Norman Charles Knapp.  Angie was also preceded in death by son-in-law Steve Papi.
Active & vibrant her entire life, Angie loved her family, enjoyed gardening, fishing, hiking, camping, rock collecting, swimming, dancing, shopping, and traveling.  She was a devoted member of Risen Christ Church in Denver, Colorado.
Growing up in South Chicago, Illinois, she & her mother forged a close bond after her father was killed in the line of duty as a Chicago police officer when she was 5 years old.  Angie and her mom took in others during the depression and in doing so they added a new member to the family, Balbina (Aunt Babe). They grew extra vegetables on an empty lot next door and shared the food with others.  Angie learned to ice skate on the frozen pond by their house.  She loved ice skating for the rest of her life.
Angie’s first job was as a comptometer operator for the Illinois Central Railroad.
It was at Navy Pier in Chicago that Angie caught the eye of Marine Norman C Knapp.  On March 18, 1944, she and Norman were married in Santa Barbara, California.   After his honorable active service was completed, they resided in Missoula, Montana, where she was the #1 study partner of Norman’s as he earned his Bachelor of Science in Geology degree – learning enough about geology herself that she could identify gemstones and rocks the rest of her life – a skill she used for selecting fine jewelry created by artists.  After he began work for Mobil Oil, they lived in many places across the U.S.  While residing in Bismarck, North Dakota, Angie and Norm were local celebrities as they square danced many Sunday nights on television.
Angie and Norm had four children and Angie was always so proud that all four of their children graduated from college.
In 1973, Angie and Norman settled down in the Aurora, Colorado, neighborhood of Dam East, where they bought a house that they resided in for the rest of their lives together – enjoying long friendships with many wonderful neighbors.
Angie was the straight shooter, real talk, active, fun grandmother.  Don’t ever say you are bored around her – she will fix the boredom by giving you chores.  Everyone does their part and pulls their weight – no slackers allowed.
A skilled fisher-woman like her mother, Angie & her husband would go fly fishing, hiking, & camping around Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, New Zealand and other places.  They passed down their love of the outdoors to their children, grandchildren & great-grandchildren who have fond memories of more than one trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, the Tetons, Arches National Park and more.  Her last outdoor adventures included a river rafting trip on the Colorado River in Moab, Utah, at the age of 94 and a canoe fishing trip on Fish Lake in Utah where she “out-fished” the rest of the fishing party well enough to provide dinner for all at the age of 95!
Monday September 28, 2020.   A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10 AM at Risen Christ Catholic Church in Denver, Colorado, followed with a cemetery service at Committal Shelter A at 12:45 PM at Fort Logan National Cemetery where Angie will rejoin her dear late husband.  At 4 PM flowers can be placed at the gravesite: Section 30A, Burial Site 558.                 (masks required)
Special thanks goes to the very caring staff of Sunrise at Holladay and to Solstice Home Health and Hospice – thank you for taking such good care of Angie during her stay there.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the University of Montana Norman Knapp Scholarship Fund or an unexpected act of kindness would make Angie very happy.
If you wish to make a donation, gifts can be made payable to the University of Montana Foundation and noted in memory of Angeline Knapp for the Norman Knapp Undergraduate Scholarship in Geosciences. Checks should be mailed to The UM Foundation, Post Office Box 7159, Missoula, MT 59807-7159 or made on-line at www.SupportUM.org and list the same information as above, under the gift comment field.
Service Information

Celebration of Life
September 28, 2020 at 10:00 AM
3060 South Monaco Parkway, Denver, CO 80222