Ivan Ellis Knapp, Jr., 74, formerly of Mendon, died at 2:15 A.M. Friday, February 24, 2017, at Otterbein Lebanon Retirement Community.

He was born  Mary 24, 1942, in Allen County, Ohio, the son of Ivan and Elsie (Toler) Knapp, Sr. He married Rudite Ozolins on August 6, 1966, at the Wayne Street United Methodist Church in Saint Marys, and she survives in Monroe, Ohio.

He is also survived by his children: Ivan (Alexa) Knapp, III, of Montclair, New Jersey; Christine (Russell) Rilling of Monroe, Ohio; Charlie (Mary) Knapp of Monroe, Ohio. He is survived by his grandchildren: Austin Rilling; Casey Rilling; Amelia Knapp; Natalie Knapp and Edwin Knapp. He is also survived by his siblings: Jane (James) Schwartz of Spencerville; Paul (Sandy) Knapp of Germantown, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his parents; by two sisters: Elsie Wein and Betty Wessel.

Ivan was a 1960 graduate of Saint Marys Memorial High School. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from The Ohio State University, and his Master's Degree from Bowling Green State University. He was a guidance counselor for the Marion Local School District. He later wrote for several local newspapers, and was the owner and writer of Knapp'sNews.com.

He was a member of the Lion's Club, Kiwanis, and the Mercer County Fair Board, and a DARE Program Booster. He was named Mercer County Citizen of the Year in 2014. In his spare time, Ivan enjoyed farming and writing.

Funeral rites will be held 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, February 28, 2017, at the Miller Funeral Home, 1605 Celina Road. Burial will follow at the Tomlinson Cemetery, Mendon.

Friends may call from 11:00 A.M. until the time of services on Tuesday at the funeral home, where memorial gifts may be given to Grand Lake Hospice.

Condolences may be sent to Ivan's family via Millerfuneralhomes.net.