Thomas E. Knappich

Thomas Knappich was born in Kempten, Germany on February 5th, 1934. He was raised in Stuttgart, Germany. During my childhood when bombing during the war escalated, children were ordered by Hitler to leave the cities, and that is when he went to live with his grandparents in Bayersoien. At age ten he joined the Hitler Youth, also called the German Boy Scouts. In July 1945 his parents and he returned to Stuttgart and moved back into their apartment. Food was scarce and times were hard. After graduating from High School and earning an apprenticeship in Business Administration, he immigrated to Winnipeg, Canada in 1954 and worked in the lumber industry. In 1956 he moved to the United States and joined the US Air Force and reported to Lackland AF Base in Texas. In May of 1957 his new assignment was the 25th Squadron at Lindsey Air Station in Wiesbaden, Germany. Wiesbaden is where he met his lovely wife, Roswitha. In May 1959 he married Roswitha in Stuttgart, and they honeymooned in Garmisch, Oberammergau, and Bayersoien. His son Tommy was born in May of 1962 at Keesler AFB and ten days later he and Rose drove to California in a Volkswagen beetle. Over the next 20 years he was stationed in California, Germany, France, North Carolina, Italy, Turkey, and finally Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS. He retired from the Air Force in 1977 and then worked at Dupont in Delisle, MS for another 15 years, retiring in 1993.

He received a B.S. degree in Education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1978.

Thomas was an avid fisherman and hunter who always enjoyed spending with his family at Ship and Cat Island.

Thomas is survived by his wife Roswitha Knappich who resides in Biloxi, MS. His son Thomas Knappich of Denver, CO and his wife Carol Knappich / their daughter Brittany Knappich and granddaughter Grace.

Family and friends are invited to gather in honor of his memory at a graveside service on May 15, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Biloxi National Cemetery,400 Veterans Ave, Biloxi, MS 39531.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Biloxi, is honored to serve the Knappich family during this difficult time.