Joyce Newhard Knapp

February 11, 2019

Joyce Newhard Knapp, 97, a former longtime resident of Montgomery Township passed away peacefully on February 11, 2019 at the Artman Lutheran Home in Ambler, PA, nine days after celebrating her 97th birthday. Born in Allentown, PA, on February 2, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Allen G. and Florence (Sames) Newhard. Joyce was a 1941 graduate of Allentown High School and a graduate of Moravian College. She was employed for many years as a secretary/ bookkeeper for her family's businesses, Albeth Ice Company and Albeth Ice Palace in Allentown. During World War II, Joyce was a volunteer nurse's aide at Allentown Hospital. She left the city and moved to Montgomery Township in 1949, upon her marriage to C. Howard -ud- Knapp, Jr., and began her new life as a farmer's wife. At times, she found herself assisting with vegetable harvesting or other tasks on the Knapp Farm, even driving a tractor when needed, but soon discovered she was afraid of chickens. Joyce continued her part-time job for the family business in Allentown, spending several days there each month until 1968. As a young woman, Joyce enjoyed ice skating on her family's skating rink, when not working at the ticket window or snack counter. She loved to travel, and in 1980 completed a round-the-world trip, traveling alone, while making life-long friends along the way. One of the highlights of her globe-trotting was a visit to her ancestral town of Rumbach, Germany with a group of distant Newhard cousins. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who enjoyed playing the piano, jigsaw puzzles, reading, gardening, and family trips to Ocean City, NJ. Sadly, poor eyesight and health prevented her from participating in her favorite activities during the last years of her life. For approximately 50 years, Joyce was a member of the Montgomery Square United Methodist Church, where she served as treasurer for several years, and in her later years, was a member of her former childhood church, St. John's Lutheran Church in Allentown. In addition to her parents, Joyce was preceded in death by a brother, Allan S. Newhard and a sister, Adele N. Reider. Surviving is her daughter, Lisa Knapp Siegel and her husband, Brian, of Lower Gwynedd, with whom she resided for several years after leaving her home in Montgomery Township. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Patricia Moyer Graham and husband, Jason of Hilltown Township; David Moyer and fianc??e, Angela Polsinelli, of Springfield, VA; Kristy Moyer of Blue Bell, PA; great-grandsons Joshua Taylor of Blue Bell, PA and Gabriel Moyer of Palm Coast, FL; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services and internment in Allentown, PA will be private.