Jack Whitfield Knapple

Jack Whitfield Knapple passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2014, at age 79. Jack courageously battled multiple medical problems over the last several years. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, William F. "Willie" Knapple and Hildagard Scholze Knapple and sister, Wilella Knapple Downing. Jack was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church. He graduated from Weiner High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Arkansas. Jack is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Linda Lewis Knapple, whom he was married to for 54 years. Jack is also survived by his son, Whitfield Lewis Knapple, M.D., of Little Rock; his daughter, Valerie Knapple Angel, her husband, Rick Angel, and their two sons, Adam Angel and Zachary Angel, all of Little Rock. Jack was a kind and gentle soul. He absolutely loved being raised and taking over the family farming operation, Knapple and Knapple Farms. Jack loved everything about being a farmer and "living on the banks of the beautiful Bayou De View". Jack loved The Lord, his family (with a special love being "Papa" to his grandsons, Adam and Zachary), his farming community, his church family at Zion Lutheran Church, and the Razorbacks. Jack will forever be remembered for his Southern gentlemen traits, his plaid shirts and khaki pants, and his tilted farming caps. Jack's memories will be forever cherished and he will be sorely missed by his family and friends. The family would like to express their appreciation to Dr. William Russo and his staff, the doctors and nurses at Baptist Health North Little Rock, Tracy Ashburn and the staff at St. Bernard's Home Health and Bette Mross for their tremendous care and compassion. Visitation will be at Zion Lutheran Church in Waldenburg, Arkansas on Friday, February 21, 2014 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 22, 2014 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. The funeral will be on Saturday, February 22, 2014, at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at the Waldenburg Cemetery under the direction of Gregg-Langford Bookout Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Keith Bise, Gerald Bass, Steve Carpenter, Tommy Cunningham, Mark Dennis, Phil Hesse, Pete Traymon, and Gary Zirbel. Honorary Pallbearers will be Charles Givens, David Burton, Paul Lewis, Tommy Wofford, William Russo, M.D., Leo Bartholomew, Johnny Brannon, Fred Williams, Kenneth Easter, and Paul Zirbel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Zion Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 40, Waldenburg, Arkansas 72475; Waldenburg Cemetery, 5041 Hwy. 956, Weiner, Arkansas 72479; and the Weiner Fire Department, 123 West 2nd Street, Weiner, Arkansas 72479. Online: ocnabbfuneralhomes.com.