Suzanne "Sue" H. (Fitzgerald) Knapp

Sue Knapp, 82, passed away peacefully at home in Fox River Grove on the snowy morning of January 26, 2023. She was also known as Susie/Mama/Mom/MIL and Granny Sue. This is Sue’s story.

Sue was born September 18, 1940 at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, the youngest of five children born to Arthur Fitzgerald and Naomi Speidel. She grew up in Glenview. After graduating from Marywood High School in Evanston in 1959, she received her Bachelor of Science from the College of Saint Teresa in Winona, Minnesota in June 1963.

Upon graduating she took her first teaching job in Tacoma, Washington and later taught in the Chicago suburbs and the Washington DC area. In Sue’s words, she left teaching “to raise wonderful children that other teachers would enjoy.” Later, she was a substitute teacher at St. Peter and Paul in Cary when Andy and Kate attended there, much to their chagrin. Always an educator, Sue couldn’t help but correct her kids’ and grandkids’ grammar.

Sue and Marty met in a bar in Chicago (isn’t that ironic?) while he was with his friend Chuck and she was with her friend Brenda. Sue and Marty were married on July 19, 1969 at United Methodist Church in Fox River Grove and moved into their first home there. They later moved to Cary before building and settling into their current home in Fox River Grove in March 1981. In Sue’s words, “I love our house. It is probably the coolest house in town.”

Besides keeping the books for Marty’s business Viking Stairs, Sue kept the books at a local music store and a podiatrist's office. She was meticulous with numbers, even making sure the Christmas gifts for the kids and grandkids were the same value, down to the penny!

A few years after college, Sue’s parents gave her the choice between attending a finishing school or taking a trip to Europe. If you know Sue, you know what she picked! She headed to Europe during the summer 1966 and visited 10 countries in 8 weeks, journaling her adventures along the way. She caught the travel bug and later visited other countries throughout Europe, Iceland, Alaska and the Caribbean, often with her frequent travel buddy Marlene Demke.

Sue was a talented artist, even taking art classes in her late sixties. A member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sue also enjoyed genealogy and reading. After the Cubs won the World Series, Sue got her first and only tattoo in honor of their championship. Elvis was her favorite performer, and she saw him in concert once.

She was an active member of the Norge Ski Club, acting as treasurer for decades and also a fixture in the ticket booth for over 30 years. She was a member of the Fox River Grove and Cary Senior Clubs, where she had many friends through the years.

Her most important role in life over the past two decades, however, was that of Granny Sue. As each of her grandkids were born, she thought they hung the moon. In addition to supporting and cheering them on in their sports, activities and performances, she delighted in engaging in conversations about their daily lives and future plans.

Sue is survived by her husband, Marty Knapp, son Andy (Kristina) Knapp, daughter Kate (Brandon) Johnson and grandchildren Spencer, Emily, Samantha and Troy.

She is also survived by her big brother Arthur Fitzgerald with whom she shared many fond childhood memories of mischief.

She is also survived by brother-in-law David Knapp and his wife Tjet, nieces Amy Murphy, Nancy Vickers, Mary Joan Keltner, and Lisa Russell, nephews Keir Knapp, Kevin Knapp, Michael Fitzgerald, and many grandnieces and grandnephews.

Preceding her in death were siblings Mary Joan Fitzgerald, Tom Fitzgerald and Nancy DeBacker.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at Kahle-Moore Funeral Home, 403 Silver Lake Rd., Cary from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral service begins at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be at Windridge Memorial Park in Cary. Sue’s Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, February 5 at Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Please wear red, Sue’s favorite color.

Donations in memory of Sue can be made to the Cary-Grove Food Pantry.

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