Richard Knaup

Richard Joseph Knaup, 75, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

He was born Feb. 1, 1929, in Cape Girardeau, son of John and Clara Stehr Knaup. He and Carla Jo "Jody" Whitehead were married June 10, 1952, in Charleston, Mo.

Mr. Knaup was a graduate of St. Mary's High School and attended Southeast Missouri State University. He was owner and operator of Knaup Floral Co. from 1976 to 1999.

He was a member of St. Mary's Cathedral, its Parish Council, and an RCIA instructor. He was also a member and district officer of Florist Transworld Delivery Service, member of Society of American Florists, Chamber of Commerce, Optimist Club, Saint Francis Medical Center Perpetual Adoration, Tater Hill Deer and Gun Club, Elks Lodge and was a 4th Degree member of Knights of Columbus Council 1111.

Mr. Knaup was a past member of Jaycees and Exchange Club.

He was in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Survivors include his wife, Carla of Cape Girardeau; son, Richard J. (Charlotte Scherer) Knaup Jr. of Jackson; daughters, Mary L. (Oscar) Gardiner of Cape Girardeau, Marla G. (Harold) Kunz of Kirkwood, Mo., Karen E. (David) Rife of Florissant, Mo.; a son, James W. (Debra Wills) Knaup of Jefferson City, Mo.; a daughter, Kathryn J. (John) Landewee of Cape Girardeau; a son, Thomas B. Knaup of Cape Girardeau; and a daughter, Lucy C. Knaup of St. Louis.

He is also survived by a brother, John F. (Ann) Knaup of Jackson; a sister, Marjorie (A.D.) Taylor of Long Beach, Miss.; grandsons, Jonathan and Brent Knaup of Jackson; granddaughter, Jennifer (Keith) Heuring of Warrenton, Mo.; grandson, Adam Gardiner of Cape Girardeau; granddaughters, Theresa and Elizabeth Kunz of Kirkwood; grandson, Derek Rife of Florissant; granddaughter, Mary Beth Rife of Florissant; grandsons, Nicholas and Joseph Knaup of Jefferson City; granddaughters, Anna Knaup of Jefferson City and Claire Landewee of Cape Girardeau; grandson, Vincent Landewee of Cape Girardeau; and a great-granddaughter, Halle Heuring.

Friends may call at St. Mary's Cathedral from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday. Parish prayers will be at 7, followed by Knights of Columbus rosary.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, with Monsignor Richard Rolwing and the Rev. Tom Kiefer officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers will be Jonathan Knaup, Brent Knaup, Adam Gardiner, Derek Rife, Nicholas Knaup, Joseph Knaup and Vincent Landewee.

Honorary pallbearers will be Sam Unnerstall, Dick Dirnberger, Tom Boston, Vern Hopkins, Ronnie Fischer, Don Vogel, John Crites and Bill Likens.