ARLINGTON – Love continues to unite the family.
After hearing several others praise her parents and younger brother, Fawn Knapp stood up in the front row and stepped forward to face hundreds of people who had gathered Saturday at Atonement Free Lutheran Church to honor her parents and brother.
Kevin Nortz / The Herald
Then, Knapp, 22, spoke into the microphone about how much she loves her family.
“When I was 9 years old, I told my mom and dad I wanted brothers and sisters,” she said, holding back tears.
Her parents, Darrell and Sandra Knapp, granted her wish and adopted two girls – Amber and Jeanine – and three boys – Alex, Tony and Noah. The Marysville couple, who had been married for 23 years, cared for 25 foster children over 13 years.
Darrell, Sandra and Noah Knapp were killed Monday in an accident on I-5.
“They chose you guys,” Fawn Knapp said, looking at her siblings in the front row. “We love you so much, OK?”
The legacy of love that her parents demonstrated will continue to hold the Knapp family together. Fawn Knapp plans to obtain guardianship of her three minor siblings.
Alex Knapp, 19, said his parents always blanketed him with love, even when he was angry and didn’t listen to them.
“They knew I wasn’t going to be an easy child,” he said, sobbing.
About 450 people packed the church’s worship room and hall at the memorial service for Darrell Knapp, 41; Sandra Knapp, 42; and Noah, 6, who died in a five-vehicle crash Monday in Marysville.
Elke Major said she and Sandra Knapp were best friends. Knapp once told her that she didn’t have many good friends.
“I think everyone here proves she is wrong,” Major told the crowd.
Pastor Rick Long said Darrell and Sandra Knapp were devoted Christians who passed on the principles of their faith to their children.
“Their goal for children was the balance between life now and life in eternity,” Long said.
Long remembered Noah as “a small, joyful and energetic boy.”
Friends, co-workers, teachers and those who knew the family at church grieved and celebrated the lost lives.
“I have better control over my voice today,” said Jeff Rollosson Halbhuber of Sammamish, who had been best friends with Darrell Knapp since they met at a junior high school in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
The two could talk about anything. They went to Mariner baseball games and to concerts, said Rollosson Halbhuber. Three days before the accident, he visited Darrell Knapp in Marysville.
“I honor Darrell. I’m grieving. I will cry,” he said, wearing a T-shirt with the logo of the rock band Rush. They went to the band’s 30th year anniversary concert in 2004 in Auburn.
Pamala Hewey, Sandra Knapp’s cousin, flew from San Diego Saturday for the funeral, wearing a bright red dress.
When Sandra Knapp was in San Diego in February for her grandfather’s funeral, she told Hewey: “If I ever die, don’t wear black. Wear red, because it’s more cheerful.”
Her cousin devoted herself to the family and always tried to make others feel comfortable, Hewey said.
“I don’t have any regrets, because I always told her, ‘I love you,’” she said.
Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com.
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