Marie Knapp — Prescott

Memorial services for Marie Knapp will be held at a later date. The family requests any donations in honor of Marie be made through memorial contributions to either the Prescott First Responders or HCI Hospice Care Services. Powers Funeral Home in Creston is assisting with arrangements. Online condolences may be made at www.powersfh.com.

Marie Elaine Molyneux Knapp, age 95, the much loved matriarch of her family group, died of breast cancer on July 9, 2015, at her home in Prescott, Iowa, having resided her entire life in Adams Co. Iowa. She was the second child born to Clayton Otho and Flossie Putnam Molyneux on a blizzardy night December 8, 1919. She graduated from Prescott High School with the class of 1937, then worked in family homes and as Deputy Treasurer for Adams Co Iowa prior to marriage to (Alonzo) Tade Knapp on March 10, 1948. This marriage produced three children: Jaris (spouse Clyde) Catron of Sherwood, Arkansas; James Knapp (wife Virginia) of Prescott, Iowa; and Kathryn (spouse Dwight) Oglesbee of Massena, Iowa. Their life partnership lasted 51 years until Tade’s death in April 1999.

Marie was an individual of principle, strong will and steadfastness, mixed with concern and kindness for others that made for strong individual connections; family and friends valued the gift of knowing her. She had deep faith in the Lord and lived a life that actively demonstrated God’s love and service.

She wasn’t much of a joiner. She had a unique and self-deprecating sense of humor. Her independent spirit promoted a body of work stretching from considerable manual labor; artistic renderings of uniquely designed quilts, thread artwork pieces, loomed goods, and hand sewn floor pillows that generally incorporated recycled materials; and written works of poetry and family history that enrich the lives of all family who read them. Her freezers were stocked with her garden produce and baked goods readily retrieved and shared with others.

She was not an early adopter of new technology, but loved her lift chairs and the digital picture frame loaded with family photos. She lamented the loss of small family farms and local community. She claimed to dislike cooking, but produced consistently exceptional culinary goods of common category that others raved about; her angel food cake, mac and cheese, yeast rolls, cookies and pies were especially renowned.

She will be intensely missed by the grandchildren she so intensely loved and supported. Stephen and Joshua Oglesbee and Jonathan (Joby) Knapp were deeply connected to their Granny through their entire lives. Granddaughters Anna Knapp Hastings, Emily Knapp Akkermann and Rhiannon Oglesbee Cooney were deeply loved by Granny and always a part of her life. She lived long enough to establish and enjoy rich relationships with great-grandchildren as well. Her legacy will live long after her. She immensely enriched our world without leaving Adams Co.

In addition to her children, their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses, great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, she is survived by her older sister, Bonnie Tallmon of Creston, Iowa who will now be the only one providing memorable quotes from their Grandma Putnam.

This very beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt requested immediate cremation and a simple later date graveside memorial service with interment of her and Tade’s ashes in Evergreen Cemetery, Prescott, Iowa.