5/ 1938

Stuart E. Knappen. . . Pen Club lost another outstanding member in the death, on April 14, of Stuart E. Knappen, senior member of the firm of Knappen, Uhl, Bryant & Snow, attorneys. He had been a member of the Club for many years.

Mr. Knappen, who was sixty years old, had been in failing health for many months. He had been active in his profession up to January first of this year, then went to Tucson, Arizona, for the winter. He had been home less than a week when death came.

Born in Hasting, son of a jurist, he graduated from the University of Michigan in 1898, was admitted to the bar in 1900 and carved for himself, in the years that followed, a widespread reputation for legal fair-dealing and dignity. His ability and his character drew the profound respect of courts, fellow attorneys, his friends, and the public.

In 1916, Mr. Knappen served as president of the Grand Rapids Bar Association. In 1927, he was president of the Michigan State Bar Association Besides his Peninsular Club affiliation, he was a past president of the Grand Rapiods Rotary Club, member of the Association of Commerce, and the Kent Country Club. He was a director in the Union Bank of Michigan and the Grand Rapidsd Federal Mutual Building & Loan Association. Exactly two weeks after the death of Mr. Knappen, death also claimed one of his daughters, Mrs. Jane Knappen Irwin, 32, who had been ill several years.

Mr. Knappen is survived by his widow, Mrs. Claire Vesey Knappebn; two daughters, Mrs. Paul F. Oltman and Mrs. William B. Matheson; a sister, Mrs. Arthur D. Perry of Grand Rapids, and five grandchildren.

Transcriber: Barb Jones
Created: 7 July 2009
URL: http://kent.migenweb.net/obituaries/knappenSE.html.html