Rosemary Knapp, 92, of Clarendon Township, passed away Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at Grand Vista Assisted Living in Marshall.
A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, January 27, 2020 at the First Baptist Church of Tekonsha, 914 N. Main Street, Tekonsha, with Pastor Jennifer Fair of the Union Church UCC of Tekonsha officiating. Interment will follow at West Clarendon Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 3:00-7:00 PM on Sunday, January 26, 2020, also at the First Baptist Church of Tekonsha.
Rosemary was born September 15, 1927 in Eckford Township to Walter and Sarah (Mills) Bugden. She graduated from Marshall High School in 1945. On March 8, 1946 she married John “Ray” Knapp at the West Eckford Church.
Rosemary farmed alongside her husband and was a member of Progressive Farmers, Farm Bureau and the local MSU Extension group. She was also a 4-H honoree. Rosemary was active in the Tekonsha-Rebecca No. 324 Chapter of Order of the Eastern Star (OES) and held county and state positions within the organization, as well as made cards for OES receptions.
She was a strong person who had a great sense of humor and was passionate about recycling. She liked to write poems and enjoyed collecting oak leaf- and acorn-themed items and giraffes.
Left to cherish their memories of Rosemary are her daughters, Merrie Knapp of Tekonsha and Margo Knapp of Marshall.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John Ray (1988); her son, Russell Ray Knapp (1974); infant twins, Marilyn and Marlene (1954); and her sister, Harriet Burlingame (2018).
Memorial donations are suggested to the Battle Creek Salvation Army, 400 Capital Avenue N.E., Battle Creek, MI 49017 or to the Tekonsha-Rebecca No. 324 OES, 239 SOuth Main Street, Ceresco, MI 49033.
