Shirley Knapp, 73

Shirley A. Knapp, 73 years, of Alvordton, passed away Friday, July 19, 2013 at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, Indiana after a sudden illness.  Shirley was born May 5, 1940 in Jackson County, Michigan, the daughter of the late Forrest and Ida (Miller) Brown.  She was a 1958 graduate of North Central High School.  Shirley married Theodore A. “Ted” Knapp on October 19, 1958 in West Unity, and he survives.  A devoted homemaker, Shirley enjoyed gardening, spending winters at their winter home in Bushnell, Florida, but she thoroughly loved spending time with her family and attending all her children and grandchildren’s academic and athletic events.  Shirley had a passion for designing homes, including their own home.

In addition to her husband Ted, Shirley is survived by four children, Kelly (LaMar) Schaffner of West Unity, Kris (Mark) Burrowes of Solon, Iowa, Koni (Lowell) Riegsecker of West Unity and Herb (Diana) Knapp of Stryker; 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson; four brothers, Forrest (Gertrude) Brown of Camden, Michigan, Walter (Sis) Brown of Melburn, Ohio, Ralph (Barb) Brown of Defiance and Rex (Lil) Brown of Webster, Florida; three sisters, Elva (H.J.) Guernsey of Cement City, Michigan, Clara (James) Kunesh of Montpelier and Wilma Michael of Tucson, Arizona.  She was preceded in death by five brothers, Clyde, Boyd, Donald, Richard and Eddie Brown and one infant sister Ellen Brown.

Funeral services for Shirley A. Knapp will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, 2013 in the Oberlin-Turnbull Funeral Home – West Unity Chapel, 202 North Liberty Street, West Unity with Robert Stuckey officiating.  Interment will follow in Floral Grove Cemetery, West Unity.  Visitation for Shirley will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. Tuesday, July 23, 2013, in the funeral home.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider memorial contribution in the name of Shirley A. Knapp be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.