Obituary of Chester B. Knapp

Ossian- Chester Burrell "Chet" Knapp age 80, passed away early Friday morning January 15, 2016, at The Crossroads Health Care Facility in Davenport, Florida. He was born in the Town of Ossian on August 4, 1935, a son of the late Burrell Isaac and Dorothy Grace (Luce) Knapp. He was also predeceased by his first wife Jean Hoffman Knapp in 1994, a step-son, William Le Vasseur, brother's in-law, Vance Way, Skip Lawhorn, Edward Richards, Warren Giles and Marion Brokaw Jr. and Jack Shelby. Chet and his brother Bruce owned and operated a farm in Ossian for many years. He was also a school bus driver and mechanic for the Dansville Central School District for ten years after his farming days ended. He was active in the Town of Ossian as a member of the Town Board, Ossian Volunteer Fire Department, Ossian Grange, Sexton and President of the Ossian Center Cemetery Association. He was instrumental in converting the former Ossian Fire Hall in to the current Ossian Community Center. He was a sixty year member of the Ossian Center Presbyterian Church where he served on the Session for over forty years, and a member of the Haines City Presbyterian Church. He was a member and past president of the Dansville Central School Board. He was also active with farm related organizations, including the Farm Bureau, Agricultural Stabilization of Conservation Services, Livingston County Soil and Water Conservation and the Dairy Co-op. While in Florida Chet was treasurer of the Ridge Manor Mobile Home Park association. Chet and Helen volunteered for countless hours as members of the Polk County Sheriff's Department park patrollers. He is survived by his wife of nineteen years, Helen (Brokaw) Le Vasseur-Knapp of Haines City, two daughters, Deb (Paul) Driesbach of Ossian and Dr. Cynthia (David) Baird of Springfield, OH, step-sons, David (Rae-Dene) Le Vasseur of Dansville and Norm Le Vasseur of Rochester, three sisters, Ruth (Warren) Giles of Hornell, Doris (Way) Lawhorn and Marilyn Richards both of FL, and a brother Bruce (Kathie) Knapp of Ossian, six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Helen's family, Josephine Shelby, Arland (Marie) Brokaw, Beverly Jean D'Angiolello, James (Kathy) Brokaw, Donna (Maylon Harvey) Brokaw, Claudia Brokaw and Janice (William) Vogt. Friends may call Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the Hindle Funeral Home, Inc. 271 Main St., Dansville. A funeral service will be held Saturday at 11:00 am at the Dansville Presbyterian Church. Interment will be in Ossian Center Cemetery, Ossian. A reception will be held at the Union Hose Club on Elizabeth St. Online remembrances may be left at HindleFuneralHome.com. In lieu of flowers please make memorials to the Dansville Presbyterian Church or the Vincent House in Wayland.