Longtime developer, Des Moines civic leader and philanthropist William C. “Bill” Knapp, 99, who served in World War II, will be laid to rest in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery he donated the bulk of the land to create.
Knapp, who died Saturday, Nov. 15, will be interred in a ceremony with full military honors at 11 a.m. Friday at the cemetery near his home in Van Meter.
Knapp served in the U.S. Navy during the Battle of Okinawa, the war’s last major battle in the Pacific. Enlisting with his parents’ permission at age 17, he transported Marines ashore on a landing craft during the Okinawa landings amid kamikaze attacks.
Knapp will join Patrick Palmersheim, the former executive director of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs who founded the cemetery and was buried there after his death at age 77 in January. Palmersheim in a 2008 interview with the Des Moines Register recalled how Knapp had read about the proposal to create the cemetery and suggested using a 76-acre tract he owned in Dallas County just off Interstate 80.
It was prime land for development, just off the Van Meter exit, the first to the west of fast-expanding Waukee.
“I told him we couldn’t afford that,” Palmersheim said. “He said, ‘I’m not talking about selling. I’m talking about donating.'”
Another philanthropic family, the Kenyons, donated an adjacent, 24-acre tract, and in 2008 the 100-acre cemetery was dedicated with space for up to 50,000 burials.
Knapp’s interment at the cemetery will follow funeral services at 10 a.m. Thursday at Plymouth Church in Des Moines. Knapp’s family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at Iles Dunn’s Chapel in Des Moines.
Iowa leaders pay tribute to Knapp
Knapp’s death of natural causes prompted an outpouring of responses from other Iowa builders and leaders. Knapp, who founded Knapp Properties and built Iowa Realty into a powerhouse before selling it, helped lead “transformative projects that changed the skyline and spirit of Des Moines,” Knapp Properties said in a statement.
Among the tributes:
Knapp “was a true patriot and cared deeply about Des Moines and Iowa. His generosity touched countless lives, and Des Moines would not be the thriving city we know today without his contributions. His impact will continue to be felt in our community for generations to come.”
― Greg Abel of West Des Moines, a Berkshire Hathaway vice chair tapped as company CEO Warren Buffett’s future successor
“Bill was great fun, always up ― never down. Don’t ask me to rank his priorities but they were family, friends, dealmaking, and politics. He loved making money and giving it away. His 99 years were fully lived.”
― Jim Cownie, a Des Moines-area developer who often partnered on projects with Knapp
“Mr. Knapp’s generosity and vision has changed the institution of the Iowa State Fair to what has become today — the envy of the nation. He inspired tens of millions of dollars of support for the great Iowa State Fair because of his leadership.”
― The Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation, a nonprofit that raises funds for fairgrounds improvements
“The city of Des Moines is what it is today thanks to the vision of Bill Knapp, but his impact extends far beyond. A generous philanthropist, WWII veteran, devoted family man, and friend to many, Bill lived his life in service to his country, his community, and his fellow Iowans.”
― Gov. Kim Reynolds
“Although Bill and I were not in the same political party, we eventually became great friends, meeting on a regular basis. He always joked that he spent a lot of his personal money trying to defeat me. But he laughed that over time, we gained mutual respect, working together on many Iowa economic development issues.”
― Former Iowa Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, former U.S. ambassador to China
Knapp “was a small-town Iowa guy who never forgot where he came from but had a significant ambition to make everything around him and everyone around him better. … He was a remarkable individual” who “was extraordinarily generous” and “never said no.”
― Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, who also served as the U.S. secretary of agriculture under both Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden
Knapp “did it all with style, grace and a smile on his face. … He personified the very best of Iowa values; love of family and friends, relentless determination, remarkable work ethic and selfless service to others.”
― Former Iowa Gov. Chet Culver
Knapp “had that energy in him, to get something to the finish line. … He had an insatiable work ethic. He hustled and outworked everybody. If he thought something was important, he never gave up.”
― Chris Costa, Knapp Properties’ CEO
Knapp was “a transformative leader who helped shape the growth of our city. His vision and belief in what Des Moines could become have been instrumental to the success and growth we’ve seen in central Iowa. I have no doubt that his kindness, dedication and insight have left a lasting impact on our community.”
― Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen
Family requests donations
In lieu of flowers, Knapp’s family asks that donations be made to Planned Parenthood North Central States Foundation or Food Bank of Iowa. They can be made in honor or memory of Knapp.
Staff writers Courtney Crowder and Thai Theodoro contributed to this article.
Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: WW2 veteran Bill Knapp to receive military honors at Iowa cemetery he helped create
Reporting by Donnelle Eller, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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