William Knapik

Waynesville, William A. "Bill" Knapik, 77, passed away on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at his home.

A native of Clarksville, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Mihal and Elizabeth Baloga Knapik. Bill was also preceded in death by his first wife, Patty Morgan Knapik, who died in 1998; a grandson, Brian Frady; three sisters; four brothers, and sister-in-law, Sue Morgan. He served in the US Navy and was a retired carpenter who worked for Clark & Leatherwood Company for 20 years. Bill was affectionately known as Papaw and was loved and will be missed by his family and friends. He enjoyed gardening in his spare time and always grew a bountiful garden that would easily feed his family and friends in need. Bill was an avid Tarheel and Miami Dolphins fan, but his heart belonged to the outdoors, and he never missed an opportunity to hunt or fish with his friends. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.

Bill is survived by his wife of 19 years, Debra Killian Knapik; three daughters, Wanda Vernon (Scott) of Lake Wylie, South Carolina; Shirley Sawyer (James) of Waynesville and Michelle Knapik, of Canton; a son, William Andrew Knapik, Jr. of Knoxville, Tennessee; a stepdaughter, Kellie Powell (Jamie) of Weaverville; a stepson, Jeff Mathews (Sherry) of Bryson City; two sisters, Veronica Bashar and Delores Warner; a brother, Charlie Knapik (Winnie); seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life service will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 13, 2018 in the Waynesville Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Jeff Mathews officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the V.A. Medical Center Voluntary Service, 1100 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805.

The care of Bill has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes and an online memorial register is available at "Obituaries" at www.wellsfuneralhome.com

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