Ingeborg Margaret Knapp
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Ingeborg (Inge) Margaret Knapp, on November 18, 2024, with her three children by her side. She remained cheerful to her last days, leaving behind a legacy of inspiration and profound appreciation for the gift of life.
Inge was born in Köln (Cologne), Germany, in March 1933, the second child of Margarete and Fritz Wagenknecht. Her early years were marked by the hardships of World War II, compounded by her parents’ divorce when she was five years old. During the bombing of Frankfurt, Inge and her family sought refuge in the countryside town of Ginsheim. There, she and her siblings assumed significant responsibilities to support their single mother in a time of scarce food and relentless air raids.
In 1948, at the age of fifteen, Inge and her two brothers emigrated to the United States when her mother accepted the marriage proposal of U.S. Army Colonel Cloyde Schroeder. Col. Schroeder adopted all three children, and the new family settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This marked a pivotal moment in Inge’s life, which she often described as being plucked from the rubble of post-war Germany and placed in the paradise of America. She embraced her new country wholeheartedly, quickly learning English and excelling in high school, where she played the clarinet in the marching band. Two younger sisters, Marga and Cathy, joined the family, and Inge proudly became a U.S. citizen in 1952.
After earning her bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin, Inge became a high school English and German teacher. She met the love of her life, Walter Knapp, a trumpet player and fellow German immigrant, while playing in a civic band in Milwaukee. They married in 1956 and, after Walter completed his engineering degree, pursued their dream of moving west. They settled first in Santa Monica, California, where their son Eric was born, and later in Santa Barbara, where Roland and Sonya were born.
As a wife and mother, Inge was devoted to her family. She was a patient, encouraging, and steadfast presence in our lives. Whether helping us with schoolwork or nurturing our passions, she instilled in us a love of learning, creativity, and the natural world.
Inge’s boundless energy extended beyond family life to a wide array of interests and talents. She was a gifted writer who published two volumes of poetry and had a flair for crafting puns and spoonerisms. She delighted in nature, learning the names of native plants while hiking in the Santa Barbara backcountry or on camping trips to national parks. She also played the piano, sketched, and mastered intricate knitting and embroidery. She adventurously explored Middle Eastern dance, meditation, and vegetarian cooking. Her lifelong love of music led her to sing with the Edelweiss Choir of Santa Barbara for nearly 50 years, alongside Walter. Through the choir, they made lifelong friends and maintained a connection to their homeland.
Despite significant health challenges stemming from childhood rheumatic fever, including three open-heart surgeries, our mother’s zest for life defied expectations and carried her through an extraordinary 91 years.
Preceded in death by her beloved Walter in 2023, Inge is survived by her brothers Hans and Udo (Nancy); her children, Eric Knapp (Stacey), Roland Knapp (Sally), and Sonya Fairbanks; and her grandchildren, Malcolm, Stefan, and Kalmia.
Playfully calling herself “Queen Inge the First,” Inge managed to bring levity and grace to even the most challenging moments in the last years. She will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her, and her memory will be cherished forever. All Hail Queen Inge!
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our hospice staff and caregivers whose dedication and skill made it possible for her to spend her final years in the comfort of her home.
A memorial celebration will be held on January 10, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Casa Covarrubias. For more information, please call 805-693-5449.