George Knapp

George Woolsey Knapp, son of Ed and Helen (Walter) Knapp, was born April 15, 1925 at Oakes, North Dakota. He passed to his heavenly home on October 9, 2019.  George's family will hold a memorial service at 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 18 at Hope Lutheran Church (107 Western Ave, Sunburg, MN 56289).  The church is handicapped accessible.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations World Missions.

George had his elementary schooling in Riverdale Consolidated School in rural Oakes, ND and graduated from Oakes High School in 1942.

Following graduation, he moved to Guelph, North Dakota, where he farmed with his father. George was very active in 4-H, winning several awards in crops and livestock judging. In 1946, he won a trip to the 25th National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago, Illinois, where he met his future wife, Helen Loucks.

On September 19, 1948, he was united in marriage to Helen Lenore Loucks at High Prairie Lutheran Free Church in rural LaMoure, North Dakota.

George and Helen farmed near Ft. Ransom, North Dakota until 1958, when heeding God's calling, they moved to Brazil as self-supporting agricultural missionaries. In 1968, they became affiliated with the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations, with which they worked in Brazil until retiring in 1990. While on the mission field, George worked on a coffee farm, taught English in the public school, worked in the construction of a Bible School and several churches, helped establish and pastor several churches, and was a teacher at the AFLC Bible School and Seminary. He and Helen were also houseparents for missionary children for 6 years,

Upon retirement, George and Helen moved to Willmar, Minnesota, where George entered various volunteer work and part-tme employment at H&R Block, Lima Grain Genetics, PAU Seeds and Pannar Seeds.

George is survived by his wife; daughters: Karen and Carol of Willmar, MN, and Cida of Londrina, Parana, Brazil; sons: Charles (Joyce) of Mason, WI, Halvor (Ginny) of Spicer, MN, Calvin (Terry) of Paynesville, MN, and Carlos of Atlanta, GA; twenty grandchildren; and forty-seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters; an infant son; an infant grandson; and a son-in-law.

Blessed be his memory.