Ivo L. Knapp

June 15th, 1923 - March 14th, 2021

Ivo's Memory Wall

We encourage you to share your most beloved memories of Ivo here, so that the family and other loved ones can always see it. Share your favorite stories or comment on those shared by others.

Ivo was a SH legend. He has been a presence in South Haven for as long as I can remember. He was a regular at the Foodtown grill and always had great stories and jokes. Ivo and my stepdad Ted, another WW2 vet, were always joking and telling stories. As a young boy, I would watch Ivo and think what a good man. And he always had time for the kids with teasing and smiles. A war hero, and a friend. His loss will be felt in the community. The world won't be the same place without Ivo. Condolences to all that feel this loss. RIP Ivo.

Harry Kohn

What a sweet man with so many amazing stories! His eyes would just sparkle as he spoke of his dear wife and the love they shared. I am so happy that a local businessman, Doug Landers cared enough about Ivo to welcome him regularly in his store - Wolverine Hardware - and they even made him a custom personalized stool to sit on. You just can't find that kind of customer service very often. Nothing made him prouder than the Flight of Honor, and when he came to the South Haven Chamber with his photos to share with us, we could see what an impact that day had made for him.

Kathy Wagaman

When I had the chance and honor I would join the "boys" at their table at McDonald's. There were many stories told and shared and it seems Ivo was always in the mix. He would bring in his latest projects to share, like the extremely late Bowie Knife he had made and highly polished. Wood projects he made and finished, all drawing upon the skill and knowledge he acquired from his years spent at Everett's. He was more of a regular at Mass than I was and had a great devotion to his faith. He will be missed, and of course like the many times that I've said it before " I wish I could have taken the time to stop and see him more." My father's generation is all but gone and so are his friends that I grew up knowing and had been a part of my life growing up, I hope never to forget.

Dave Wiatrowski

I have known Ivo for nearly my entire life! He was a good friend of my dad and my godfather so I have memories of him and Harriet when I was just a little girl. Then I was lucky enough to see him whenever I came back to South Haven to see my dad and got to join their McDonald's coffee group in the last several years! Ivo was still the same joyful spirit that he had always been. When my dad passed away a little over a year ago, Ivo came to the visitation and was overtaken with grief; it's got to be hard knowing you are the last of "the old guard". He was truly the last connection that I personally had to my dad's generation in South Haven. You will be missed by all of the lives you touched there, Ivo, but I have a feeling that you and Gerry are meeting over coffee again and reminiscing about lives well lived.

Beverly Sherman Edwards

I first met Ivo back when we were bowlers. That was long, long ago. Didn't really know him that well. Was never on a team of his. But years later, decades later I bought the rental property next door to where he and his wife, Harriet, lived. The seller, Ron Kreiger, took me next door to introduce me to Ivo. I did not know if he would remember me. No reason he should have, really.

Ron knocked on the door and Ivo came. It went like this...

Ron: "Ivo, I'd like to introduce your..."
Ivo: "John Davis! How are you!? You bought the place?"
He had a big, 300 watt smile on his face. I will always remember that.

Soon after I got settled in next door I was invited over to meet his wife. Few people have ever instantly made me more comfortable than Harriet did. She was so friendly and down to Earth. I was blessed to have them not only as neighbors but also as good friends.

A few years later I began *coming out* as a non-binary person. It cost me a lot of friends, people I believed in. Trusted. They--and numerous others in this town--stood in judgment of me letting their ignorance unloosen their fears and then, from that, their demonizations.

Ivo and Harriet would have no part in that. They remained much of my support even after I was falsely convicted of something I never did - the lie coming from the same exact address I had been shot from some 3 months earlier. The police ran me through Local Record, LEIN, and NCIC...and found nothing, no record, zip. City Hall rejoiced in the verdict.

It cost me more friends, cost me my reputation. But after I told the Knapps what had happened they continued to be close friends, close support. Had they not done so you woud likely not be reading these words.

And then there came a night when their furnace coupler broke at around 3am. My furnace in the 4-plex had the same set-up. Ivo kncked on my door and asked if I could help. One of the great moments in my life. Finally, an opportunity to give back to them. I got dressed and went over with a new coupler (I always kept a few on hand for just this kind of thing happening). We got it fixed. And they were thankful. What they did not know is that I was even more thankful for getting the opportunity to give back all the care they had given me.

Ivo told me sometime later that he had been to the barber shop and someone started bad mouthing me. Ivo said he jumped him and asked "Do you know John? Anything about him?" And he told the guy about my helping them with the furnace repair. That took courage to confront the guy. It took (and takes) spiritual strength to stand tall against hate speech.

The Master Had Said: "Your journey cannot be against hatred all while enabling it. One path will offer spiritual strength, another shallow weakness disguised as safe comfort. What choices will you then make? Your answers will inform us as to who you wish to be".

But that was who Ivo was. Harriet too. Quiet warriors standing tall for all the *children of a lesser god*.
I will not live long enough to ever find two finer people in my life.

The Master Had Said: "When one passes often the question becomes how to best remember their life's journey? Perhaps the best way is to take a candle from their life and hold it high with our own so that others may see and find hope, courage, acceptance, and compassion. In this way it can be said that the departed are forever gone and always here."

John Davis

We first met Ivo when we happened into McDonalds for breakfast one morning and ran into several gentlemen that we knew. Ivo was not a gentleman that we had previously met, but by the time we left, we felt like lifetime friends. His stories and memories were engaging and fascinating. After that initial meeting, we often stopped into McDonalds just to say hello to Ivo. He was a truly wonderful gentleman. We feel privileged that we had a chance to meet him and share some of his colorful stories about life in South Haven. Marcy and Michael Feinberg