Mary Knapp
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Mary Patricia Knapp, 72, of Centennial, CO, passed away on April 27, 2019 after a long battle with kidney disease. She was born Mary Patricia Richter in Columbus, OH, to Patricia and Joseph Richter on May 20, 1946, and spent much of her youth in Kansas.
Mary graduated from Hayden High School, a Catholic High School, in Topeka, Kansas in 1964. She attended Kansas State University from 1964-1966 where she was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, majoring in Mathematics. After her father was stationed at Minot Air Force Base in 1966, she transferred to Minot State College and majored in Mathematics with a minor in French. She met the love of her life, Glenn William Knapp at a dance for military dependents. It was love at first sight. Mary later became a stewardess for Eastern Airlines, and Glenn enlisted in the Navy. Mary moved to Miami, but she worked the Miami-Memphis route, and would visit Glenn while he was attending school at Memphis Naval Air Station. Glenn never formally proposed to Mary; on July 5, 1967, he told Mary that they were getting married. They found a Justice of the Peace and were wed later that day in Millington, TN. Glenn immediately applied for Navy family housing, and Mary quit her job and moved in with her husband three weeks later.
For the next 23 years, Mary was a Navy wife, living in San Diego and later on in Oceanside, California when Glenn was stationed at Camp Pendleton. She gave birth to her son Kevin Edward Knapp on July 31, 1968, and to her daughter Catherine Elizabeth Knapp on October 31, 1973. Mary worked primarily as a banquet waitress in California then later at various customer service positions throughout the years. During her time in California, Mary ran (and completed) two of the annual San Diego marathons. She was also active in her Catholic faith, serving as the Assistant Director of Religious Education at Miramar Naval Air Station and taught catechism classes.
Mary and Glenn moved from California to Wyoming after Glenn retired from the Navy and spent a short time in Laramie, Wyoming and later moved to Gillette, Wyoming. Mary worked at Norwest Bank and Wells Fargo Bank for several years and later took a position as an administrative assistant at Campbell County High School, and helped mentor many high school students during her tenure there.
In 2012 Glenn retired from teaching, and they moved to Aurora, CO, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Glenn unexpectedly passed away in December of 2015 and Mary missed her husband greatly.
Mary was a loving homemaker, caring for her children and doting on her beloved grandchildren. She enjoyed socializing with her neighbors, reading, playing solitaire and bingo, listening to music, watching movies, and spending time with the many dogs, cats, and her cherished parrots she had adopted during her life.
She is survived by her daughter, Catherine E. Denis, 45 (Knapp) of Aurora, CO; son, Kevin E. of Colorado Springs, CO, 50; two grandchildren, Alex (8) and Ava Denis (2), as well as her younger brothers Joseph Richter and James Richter.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband Glenn in 2015, her son Michael, and her parents, Patricia and Joseph Richter.
A viewing will be held Thursday May 9, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. at Light of the World Catholic Church, 10361 W. Bowles Avenue, Littleton, Colorado 80127 with a Mass of Christian Burial immediately after the viewing at 10:00 a.m.. Funeral services at Fort Logan National Cemetery will be immediately following the mass at 12:00 p.m.
Visit on online memorial page at ApolloFunerals.com