James C. Knapp

James Clayton “Jim” Knapp of Big Lake died March 24, 2011, from injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident while vacationing in New Zealand.

Born Aug. 20, 1944, to Alice and Loren Knapp of Dodge City, Kan., Jim and his family moved to Alaska shortly after World War II ended, spending their first winter in Whittier. His childhood was spent in the Rabbit Creek area, where he enjoyed hitchhiking to football practice.

Jim graduated from East Anchorage High School in 1963. He graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he met his future wife, Lynndeen Barnett Knapp. They were married on May 20, 1967, and spent their honeymoon in Nenana. Now that’s true love!

One project Jim worked on was the Parks Highway — Nenana River Bridge. He proudly described the project to his grandsons last summer while visiting the area. In 1969, Jim was sent to Vietnam, where he applied his bridge building expertise.

Lynndeen and Jim shared a lifetime of adventures, including the raising of their two daughters, Anjanette Knapp Steer and Lorena Knapp. Jim was always a firm believer in taking advantage of teachable moments and “girls can do anything,” providing an important inspiration in his daughters’ upbringing. Summers were spent fishing in the Susitna Valley, where Jim was known as the pilot of Cessna 24 X-Rray. Winters were spent snowmaching (Jim was a 1985 Iron Dog finisher) and ice-fishing. Jim enjoyed working as a project manager for Anchorage engineering firms, where he was always challenged by the shipping efforts of construction materials to rural Alaska.

He enjoyed the many friends he made throughout Alaska while working on a variety of projects. Upon retirement, Jim enjoyed motorcycle riding, cooking, spending winters in Mexico and traveling with Lynndeen.

Jim was a loving and caring husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, son and friend. He will be remembered each spring as the salmon return to the Susitna Valley, a place he loved to fish. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Jim’s name to your favorite charity.

Jim is survived by his wife of 44 years, Lynndeen Knapp of Big Lake; Lorena Knapp of Anchorage; Anjanette and Zack Steer of Sheep Mountain; grandsons Glenn and Clayton; sisters, Kathleen (Rex) McKnight of Reno, Nev., and Lynn (Tom) Thomas of Silver Lake; mother, Alice E. Knapp of Tucson, Ariz.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jim’s spirit of adventure and zest for life will live on in all of us,” his family wrote.

A celebration of life and barbecue has been scheduled for 1 p.m., May 7 at 18172 Marion Lake Drive in Big Lake.