Maurice Owen Knepp, aged 83, passed away Wednesday, June 26, 2024. He was born May 15, 1941, to Alta Hazel and Kenneth E. Knepp, in Maywood, California. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and son.
He worked in his father’s machine shop, Aero Machine, and was an accomplished machinist. He put himself through college and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Wichita State University in 1969. He met the love of his life, Patty, and they married October 27, 1962. They had two children, Stephanie and Michael. As a family they had many adventures traveling and visiting many national parks, camping, waterskiing, motorcycling, and much more.
As a child, his love for motorcycles began. His neighbor had an old Harley, and he asked the neighbor if he could ride it. The neighbor told him if he could get it running, he could ride it. He did get it running and he never looked back. In 1971, he and Patty opened Maurey’s Suzuki in Wichita, Kansas. The business was successful for 18 years. Over many years during this time and after, he took his dirt bike to Mexico in February, and rode in the Chihuahua desert with his friends, son, and son-in-law. He loved going there and some of his greatest memories are of these trips. He was an accomplished motorcyclist whether it be dirt or street. In addition to Mexico, he participated in many enduros and rode around Kansas. He and his daughter spent many Sundays going on breakfast rides and an occasional poker run. His entire family worked in Maurey’s Suzuki in some capacity the entire time it was open.
After the closure of the business, he went to work for Beechcraft until his retirement in 2008.
Maurice was Master of Albert Pike Lodge no. 303 in 1983, a member of the Scottish Rite, and a Noble of the Midian Shrine. He and Patty were also Midian Shrine Ambassadors.
After he and Patty retired, they traveled as much as they could going on bus trips and cruises to places including but not limited to the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. They would have celebrated their 62nd anniversary this October. For the last few years, he, Patty, their daughter and son-in-law spent many weekends traveling around Kansas visiting quilt shops and other points of interest.
He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Patty Knepp, children, Stephanie Sauls (David) and Michael Knepp (Yolanda), grandchildren, Samantha Shirley (Craig), Sabrina Proffitt (Ben), and Reid Knepp, great-grandchild Maelynn Proffitt, and two brothers.
A Celebration of Life Service for Maurice will be held 2:00PM, Wednesday, July 10th, at Lakeview Funeral Home, 12100 East 13th Street North, Wichita, Kansas 67206.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Maurice's name to Shriners Hospital for Children at: https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/give/119312/#!/donation/checkout or Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.
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Shriners Hospital for Children2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607
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