December 2, 2022 – West Bend, WI – Raymond Peter Knapp, of West Bend, WI, passed away at Gundersen Hospital in La Crosse from a brain aneurysm on November 18, 2022.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years Carol (Galdick) Knapp and a brother, Ralph. Also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister Allegra McCurtain and his brother Martin.
Born May 28, 1943, in Roselawn Indiana to Herman and Myra (Zabel) Knapp.
Ray grew up on the family dairy farm. He graduated from Purdue with a BS in Agronomy with a Turf Grass specialty.
Ray worked at Stevens Point (Wi) Country Club as their Golf Course Superintendent for 7 years. He then moved to Franklin Wi where he was the Golf Course Superintendent at Tuckaway Country Club from 1972 – 1988.
Ray had 15 Greater Milwaukee Open PGA tournaments at Tuckaway. After Tuckaway, Ray worked for Spring Valley Fertilizer of Jackson Wi, selling fertilizer to golf courses.
Ray and Carol lived and farmed in Farmington since 88. Ray and Carol were long time vendors at the Downtown West Bend Farmers Market and several farmers markets including the West Allis Farmers Market, the and the Dane County Farmers Market on the Capitol Square in Madison Wi.
He was known for his dozens of different tomato and pepper plants and his sense of humor.
Ray and Carol loved to travel. Many trips included skiing at most of the big areas out west. In the early 80s, they visited Quito Ecuador and the Galapagos and the upper Amazon.
They loved trips to Mexico, both the Cancun area and Puerto Vallarta area.
Funeral arrangement for Ray have been made at the Maurin Center at Lac Lawrann, 300 Schmidt Road on Friday, December 9, 2022. Visitation will be at 2 p.m. with a service at 4 p.m.
