Dennis Wilber Knapp, 86, went to sleep on Saturday, August 22 in the mountains of Colorado and woke up in heaven sometime during the night. He spent his last day on earth in the Rocky Mountains; he woke up at Mt. Zion (heaven), where he will spend eternity with the Triune God he loved and adored.

Dennis was born on February 5, 1940, in Mt. Vernon, Ill. He was raised in Oxford, KS, where he attended school and met the love of his life, Barbara Smith. He and Barbara married in 1963 and he graduated from Kansas State University in the same year with a degree in Mathematics and a minor in Geology. He worked for Pan American Oil as a geophysicist, a title he thought was far too lofty for the work he performed. After the birth of his first son, Chuck, and his second son, Curtis, the family moved to Concordia, where he became the assistant administrator and then administrator of Sunset Home. In 1997 he preferred downward mobility to upward and went to work for Sunset Home in maintenance instead of administration, finally retiring in 2005. Dennis and Barbara were due to celebrate their 63rd anniversary on September 7.

Dennis was a member of The Baptist Church in Concordia for many years. He and Barbara then helped to start Providence Reformed Fellowship and then joined New Hope Baptist Church in Seneca, KS. In each of these churches, he frequently taught Sunday school, led Bible studies, gave devotionals for prayer meetings, and filled the pulpit when the pastor needed a substitute.

By birth and nature, Dennis was quiet, unassuming, unpretentious and laid back. By second birth and the work of grace by Christ in his heart, he was unwavering, consistent, persevering, patient, humble, a lover of Christ, the Scriptures and the preaching of the Puritans. He loved his family and his family loved him. He will be missed beyond any ability to express.

He was preceded in death by his father, Wilbur, his mother, Erlene, and his sister, Kristine; his great grandchildren: Jessie Knapp, Noah Sherrill, and Dorothy Sherrill. 

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his brother, Steve Knapp (Jackie) his sons, Chuck (Lisa) and Curtis (Catherine); his grandchildren: Drew Knapp (Paulina), Jared Knapp, and Lydia Lamson (Drew); Cara Sherrill (Jacob), Anna Knapp, Nathan Knapp (Kirsten), Jonathan Knapp, Haven Knapp, Stephen Knapp, Abigail Knapp and David Knapp; his great-grandchildren: Anne Knapp, Mateo Knapp; a child yet in the womb; and a number of nephews, nieces and cousins.

There will be a visitation with family on Monday, August 31, 2026 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, Concordia, Kansas. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at Walnut Grove Cemetery, Concordia. A celebration of Dennis' life will follow at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at The Baptist Church in Concordia, Kansas. The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to New Hope Baptist Church, 882 W. Hwy 36, Seneca, Kansas 66538 or in care of the funeral home, Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, PO Box 606, Concordia, Kansas 66901.  For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.