Charles Knapper

Charles Frederick Knapper, 74, of Springfield, passed from this life on Friday May 29, 2026, at Centennial Medical Center. Celebration of Life services will be conducted Tuesday June 2nd at 11:00 a.m. in the Oakhurst Chapel of the Robertson County Funeral Home with Tim Harris officiating. Interment will follow in the Palestine Cemetery with Zach Johnson, Caleb Knapper, Alex Knapper, Christian Richardson, Austin Wright, Hank Knapper, Maddox Knapper, and Jeremy Pratt serving as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Monday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.

Charles was born December 1, 1951, in Winchester. He was a graduate of Franklin County High School Class of 1970, and then went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1974, where he was a member of the first graduating class of the School of Nursing at U.T. Charles received his Nurse Practitioner degree from Vanderbilt University and served the Knoxville community with Dr. Kilmer Reed as an advanced practice nurse before continuing his education at Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia to earn his degree as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

During his career he worked at various medical facilities including Maury Regional Hospital, Southern Hills Medical Center, Centennial Medical Center, Baptist Hospital, The Birthing Center, NorthCrest Medical Center, and he finished his career as a travel CRNA in multiple states including South Carolina, Georgia, North Dakota, Wyoming, and most recently KDMC in Kentucky.

Charles was the founding mayor of the City of Nolensville, where he served from 1996 through 2006, and he was an Eagle Scout and a lifelong member of the AANA. He was a mentor and leader in his field, and he always shared his wealth of knowledge with his co-workers and fellow man. Charles loved fishing, boating, going to the lake, and working in his yard. He had a great love for Tennessee sports, especially the Vol’s and the Titan’s, and was an avid supporter of the TN Vols boosters club. He was always willing to and loved helping his fellow man. If you knew Charles, then you knew his saying “I’m your huckleberry” – Doc Holiday, and he was.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Frederick and Frieda Brown Knapper, whom he loved so much and was always devoted to their wellbeing and care until both of their deaths. Charles is survived by his wife of 19 years: Doylene Kermicle Knapper of Springfield, by his children: Stephanie Johnson of Murfreesboro, Christopher (Amber) Knapper of Knoxville, Matthew (Emilie) Knapper of Chapel Hill, Jeremy (Joy) Pratt of La Vergne, Rachael (Ashlee Mooneyhan) Pratt of Black Mountain, NC, Leslie (Michael) Barber of Greenville, SC, and Brent (Holly) Needham of Spring Hill, by his grandchildren: Caleb, Alex, Zach, Austin, Christian, Finley, Cora, Maddox, Hank, Harpeth, Maggie June, Brayden, Allie, Brody, and Cash, by his great grandchildren: Sam, Tucker, and Mavery, by his brother: Tim (Sandy) Knapper of Winchester, and by his best buddy, his Lab: Cooper.

If so desired, memorial contributions may be made to United Ministries in Springfield and may be sent c/o Robertson County Funeral Home.

Services have been entrusted to Robertson County Funeral Home.

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