Louis Noel Knapik, 90

Louis Noel Knapik, 90, passed away on Saturday, December 12, 2020, in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Private family services have been held.

Lou was born on February 5, 1930, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Louis and Marion Knapik. He attended schools in upstate New York, graduating from Buffalo Technical School in 1947. He worked for Bell Aircraft in New York, designing the Bell X-1 aircraft.

Lou married Marianne Farrell on December 20, 1949. He was drafted into the United States Army. After his discharge from the Army he went to work for Rohr Aircraft in Arizona. He then moved to Chula Vista, California, and worked for Non Linear Systems fulfilling government contracts. He sold yachts at Kendal Yates in San Diego and owned and operated Aqua Marine at the same time.

Lou married Pauline Norton in 1982. When Lou retired in 1989 they moved to Laclede, Idaho, overlooking the Pend Oreille River.

Lou is a member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Priest River, Idaho. In his youth he raced cars for Team Tigator and served as the tech inspector at Del Mar Race Track. He enjoyed wood working, building furniture and gardening.

He is survived by his daughter, Marylou Knapik of Laclede; son, Louis Knapik of San Diego, California; a granddaughter, Bianca “BeBe” Knapik; and one sister, Jeanne (Michael) Findlay of Murphysboro, Tennessee.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Pauline Knapik; and sister, Gaby Hildebrand.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Lou’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.