Harold W. Knapheide III, the president of The Knapheide Manufacturing Company affectionately known as “Knap,” died unexpectedly Tuesday, Aug. 28, at his home in Quincy IL.
Knapheide was 72 years old and would have turned 73 on Wednesday.
He was born Aug. 29, 1945, in Quincy to father H.W. “Bud” Knapheide, Jr., and mother Mary MacDill Knapheide. He married Ann Winters on June 15, 1974, in Quincy. She survives.
The long-time Knapheide president assumed the role in 1978, making him the fifth generation of Knapheides to run the company, founded in 1848. He was a 1963 Quincy High School graduate and received his BS degree in Industrial Administration from Kansas in 1967. He was director of the Quincy Area Project, a past chairman of the Blessing Hospital Board, a former director for Mercantile Trust and Savings Bank, and served on the boards of the Quincy Society of Fine Arts and the Quincy YMCA and Adams County.
Knapheide chaired or co-chaired the Salvation Army Campaign of Lights, the Quincy University’s GOAL 2000 Capital Campaign, the Adams County United Way Campaign and the Quincy YMCA Traditions for Tomorrow Capital Campaign. He was a recipient of the Mississippi Valley Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen Award, the Quincy Neighborhood Federation Theta Jansen Award, and was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Quincy University.
He also served on the Board of Governors of the Ronald Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara CA, was a trustee for the Kansas University Endowment Association, a former trustee for Monmouth College in Monmouth IL, a former member of the KU Athletic Board, a former director of Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, and the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.
Knapheide was a devoted family man who loved spending time with his family, especially watching his grandchildren grow. His family would like him to know “we have been so blessed for what he did for so many, but especially for what he did for all of us,” they said in a statement. “So many lives have been touched by his kindness and quiet generosity. Knap was fiercely loyal and dedicated to his friends. He was committed to his family business, Knapheide Manufacturing, and would be considered a true patriot. He showed his love of country by prominently and respectfully establishing The Wall of Faith on the business property. He loved and supported the Quincy community with his time and resources.” He was an avid sports fan, especially supporting the Kansas Jayhawks, St. Louis Cardinals and Quincy Blue Devils.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, include his son, H. W. “Bo” (Erin) Knapheide, IV; three grandchildren, Lauren Ragan Knapheide, Elizabeth “Libby” McGee Knapheide and Henry Winters Knapheide; a sister, Viktoria Knapheide Wood of The Woodlands TX; a nephew, Randall (Gail) Wood and their children, Morgan, Lilly and Cooper Wood; a niece, Amy “Wood” (Shawn) Wills and their children, Abby, Mia Margaret and Fisher Wills, and a niece, Molly Wood.
Knapheide was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Ragan Winters Knapheide, his granddaughter, Mary Ann Knapheide, and a brother-in-law, Erwin Wood.
Services: 11 am Monday, Sept. 3, 2018, at the new Knapheide Manufacturing plant at 2825 Koch’s Lane, Quincy IL, with Rev. Chuck Hetzler, Rev. Josh Vahle and Rev. Bruce Rice officiating.
Burial: Woodland Cemetery, Quincy IL
Visitation: 1 pm – 6 pm Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018, at the First Union Congregational Church, 12th and Maine Street
Memorials: Quincy Area Project (for the Neighborhood Federation), Quincy Public School Foundation, First Union Congregational Church or the Quincy Family YMCA
Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are overseeing arrangements.