JAMES FLOYD KNAPIK

1937-2018

“A good life is a collection of happy moments.” Dennis Waitley

And, oh what a good life he lived!

James Floyd Knapik, also affectionately known as Jim, Jimmy, Dad, Grandpa, Pa Jimmy, Uncle Jimmy and Mr. K., left us and this world on February 3, 2018 after a lengthy battle with cancer. As a devout Catholic, he had no doubts about his next stop. And, we have no doubts either that heaven has just received a new handy man.

Jimmy was born on November 4, 1937 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Houston, Texas to John Henry and Magdlyn Bielamowicz Knapik. He was the first born of seven other children, three brothers and four sisters. He was a great big brother and surrogate parent. He was usually to be found at the bottom of the dog pile of all the brothers and sisters. He attended Holy Name Catholic School in Houston and graduated from St. Thomas High School in Houston, Texas in 1955. He met Barbara Jean Gilliam (Bobbie) at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Houston, Texas when they were 14 years old. A couple of years later, Jimmy’s sister, Janet asked Bobbie if she would go to a movie with him. Two years later, they married on June 28, 1958 at St. Frances of Assisi Catholic Church. Jimmy’s parents had to sign the consent for their marriage because they were too young to legally marry. Jimmy volunteered for the Army, and they both moved to El Paso, Texas. While in the military, he served at the White Sands testing ground for nuclear devices. It is believed that the radiation that he was exposed to at White Sands eventually caused the thyroid cancer that led to his death. Bobbie and Jimmy returned to Houston in 1958 and welcomed their son John Marion Knapik on July 1959. Then 13 months later, they welcomed a daughter, Rebecca Kay Knapik on September 2, 1960.

He was such an incredible father. There was no school play, sporting event, or scouting event that he would miss. But most importantly, he wanted the best for his family. So, he spent the next 14 years attending the University of Houston night school to become an electrical engineer. In the meantime he worked as electrical technician for Dresser Industries. He graduated from the University of Houston with an electrical engineering degree in 1974 with his proud parents, siblings, and children in attendance.

Jimmy was a boy scout and wanted his son John to have the same experiences. Jimmy became a Boy Scout leader for Troop 40 St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. John eventually became an Eagle Scout. Jimmy and John spent numerous summer camps together at El Rancho O’Cima outside of San Marcos, Texas where they camped on the Blanco River. After John achieved Eagle Scout, Jimmy continued as a scout master. He was eventually awarded the highly prestigious volunteer Boy Scout award, the Silver Beaver. When Jimmy’s grandson Jak Holbrook joined scouting with Troop 410 in Austin, Texas, Jimmy participated with him too. Jak and Pa Jimmy went to summer camp together in Colorado. We’re still unsure who had a better time Pa Jimmy or Jak. Pa Jimmy proudly helped preside over Jak’s Eagle Scout ceremony in 2017. Jimmy managed to visit all the Boy Scout high adventure camps: Philmont, Boundary Waters, and Sea Base.

Jimmy encouraged his children in sports at the local YMCA. The family joined Northwest YMCA when the children were young. John and Becky participated in baseball, football, basketball, and swimming. Of course he could not limit himself to merely being a spectator. He eventually became commissioner of baseball and they named a baseball field at the YMCA after him. He also loved a good swim meet. He graduated from swim meet timer to starter. As his daughter Becky continued onto serious competitive swimming, Jimmy traveled with her to swim meets across the state.

Jimmy had a strong religious belief. He made sure that his children had a firm foundation in the Catholic Church. Jimmy became a popular lector and his son John an altar boy. Jimmy was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church for more nearly 60 years.

Jimmy was an avid outdoorsman. He loved boating of every type. He once built a sailboat. He and whoever he could find sailed that boat and any other sail boat he could find. He loved to fish and taught his children to love fishing. They began fishing with a cane pole at Sheldon Reservoir. In the latter years they all fished the bays of Port Aransas, where he once caught a hammer head shark. He also enjoyed bird hunting in his younger years. Getting up early with his brothers, son, daughter, and son in law to hunt up some birds was a favorite pass time. For numerous years he would take a winter canoe trip down the Rio Grande for a week. He came back exhausted and happy. We’re not sure whether he or his clothes smelled worse after the week. There was no body of water too small or too large for him and a boat.

He loved children and was ecstatic when his granddaughter, Stephanie Lynn Knapik arrived in 1986. They became great buddies and they could be found at the magic store searching for new tricks. She graduated from the University of Louisiana. Grandpa was so proud of the success she has become. Later in 1991, he welcomed his first grandson, James Allen Knapik. James became Grandpas’ chauffer in recently. Four years later in 1995, he welcomed his last grandson, Joseph Asbury Knapik (Jak) Holbrook (Jak). Although he and Jak lived in different cities, they became close because of scouting. Then in 2014, Jak got accepted into the University of Texas at Austin and walked on to the football team. Since that time, Jak has started 25 straight games as the University of Texas long snapper. Jak is also an honor student. Pa Jimmy has become a big fan of UT football and the long snapper. Despite being a graduate of U of H, Grandpa wears the burnt orange every game day. The grandchildren also want you all to know that Grandpa made the best oatmeal cookies in the world.

Jimmy is preceded in death by his mother and father, his brother in law Peter Krolczyk, Jr.. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara Jean Knapik, his children John Knapik and his wife Lisa, his daughter Rebecca Knapik and her husband Mark Holbrook, grandchildren Stephanie Knapik, James Knapik, and Jak Holbrook, brothers and sisters Janet Cunningham and her husband Gordon, Tom Knapik and his wife Beth, Charles Knapik and his wife Barbara, Evelyn Krolczyk, Michael Knapik and his wife Cathy, Rachel Breen and her husband Scott, Felicia Thomas and her husband Jeff, Betty and Jerry Houghton, Mickey Zachary, No niece or nephew escaped the tickles of Uncle Jimmy, including Courtney Saldivar and her husband Mark, Tommy Knapik, Katy Glenn and her husband Christopher, Scott Knapik and his wife Jane, Andrew Knapik, Peter Krolczyk, III and his wife Krissy, Christian Krolczyk, Allison Burgueno and her husband Ed, Claire Knapik, William Knapik and his wife Lucy, Christopher Knapik and his wife Brittany, Linda Brooks and her husband Leon, Lee Hougthon and his wife Melissa, Nancy Little and her husband Little, Chris Zachary and his wife Tina, Amen and his wife Tina, and many great nieces and nephews.

Pall bearers will include: Chad Brooks, John Hatcher, Peter Krolczyk, III, Mark Anthony Saldivar, William Michael Knapik, John Thomas Knapik, Christopher Adam Knapik, Scott Mathew Knapik, Andrew Robert Knapik.

Visitation and the Recitation of the Rosary will be held Tuesday at Pat H. Foley Funeral Home, 1200 West 34th Street, Houston, Texas. Visitation begins at 5:00pm and the Rosary will begin at 7:00pm.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday at 11:00 am at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church 3600 Brinkman, Houston, Texas 77018.

Should you want to make a memorial in his honor, he would have loved you to make a gift to Boy Scout Troop 40 c/o St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church 3600 Brinkman, Houston, Texas 77018. MD Anderson, or charity of your choice.

See you on the river Dad!