Howard Earl Knipp

Howard Earl Knipp of Fort Collins, CO passed away peacefully on Friday, June 10th, 2011, just one month shy of his 90th birthday. He finally succumbed to his recent failing health. He was born in the family farmhouse in Flatrock Township, Napoleon, Ohio, on July 8th, 1921, near the Maumee River, to Ethel Elizabeth Trietch and Earl Ezra Knipp. He was preceded in death by Laverne, his wife of 38 years, his sister Dorothy Shertzer, brother Lee Knipp, and grandson Adam Kruse.
Howard proudly enlisted in the US Navy in 1941. For a short period he served aboard the repair ship USS Rigal AR11, and soon received his requested transfer to a fighting ship. He reported to the destroyer, the USS Fletcher DD445, on which he served from December of 1942 to June of 1945. As a Fire Controlman First Class, he operated the analog computers which were used to control the large guns on the ship. He was aboard the ship during 13 of its credited 16 battle engagements, including operations near Guadalcanal, Leyte Gulf, and Corregidor. Howard returned stateside on June 2nd of 1945. While in Los Angeles he met LaVerne Patricia Pyzyna of Chicago on a blind date, on June 10th, 1945. On July 10th of 1945, Howard and LaVerne were married. After being transferred to the Naval Academy at Annapolis to train cadets on fire control systems, Howard finished his Navy tour in 1947. The couple then made their home in Napoleon, Ohio. Howard owned and operated his own furniture store ?Howard?s Furniture?. He subsequently had his own radio and TV repair business, and worked at Sears Roebuck and finally retired from Maumee Valley Vending Company.
His interests and hobbies included farming, golfing, fishing, dancing and playing chess and cards. He was a wicked euchre player, and he also enjoyed playing bridge with all of his friends at Rigden Farms. He learned how to use digital computers and the internet at the age of 80. Howard loved helping his granddaughter sell Girl Scout Cookies. He was interested in World War II history and enjoyed sharing his memories with his friends. In fact, he recently completed a video recording of his experiences during the war. Howard was one of the thirteen attendees at the first Fletcher reunion in 1971; he was very proud of his shipmates and all of his fellow veterans.
Survivors include son Ken Knipp, of Fort Collins, Colorado; daughter Genevieve Bonnie Rosewood of Oregon House, California; Cori Gerken of Sturgis, Michigan, daughter Becky Kruse and her husband Tom of Tulsa, OK; son Larry Knipp and his wife Wanda of Fort Collins, Colorado; and his ex-wife, Roberta Morgan of Vanlue, Ohio. He has fourteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, June 14th at the Rigden Farm Senior Living facility, 2350 Limon Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525. Contributions may be made to The American Heart Association in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 West Olive Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524