Sean Knapp, age 58, of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, passed away on Aug. 17, 2026, at his home near Cushing, Wisconsin.
Sean was born in Edina, Minnesota in 1968, and he spent his early years in the Linden Hills area of Minneapolis until his family moved to rural St. Croix Falls when he was 11 years old. He graduated from St. Croix Falls High School and was married briefly to Jennifer Flatum, with whom he shares his beautiful first child, Amanda.
Sean later served in the United States Army with the 10th Mountain Division based in Fort Drum, New York. He was a combat veteran who was deployed with the NATO Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina from 1999 to 2000.
On Sept. 22, 2001, Sean married Sharlene Prinsen, and they have two amazing children: Michael and Katelyn. Sean and Sharlene would have celebrated their 25th anniversary next month. Through many ups and downs, they were deeply connected in ways that most people never fully understood. Their deep faith in the truth and promises of the Bible was the foundation that held them together through the fires of life.
Sean’s favorite thing to do was work—he loved building, digging, constructing, and designing things that made people happy. He was exceptionally gifted in his field of work. When he took time to relax, Sean loved to visit his oldest daughter and grandsons, fish or hunt with his son, watch movies and share pet pictures with his younger daughter, discuss a good conspiracy theory with his wife, tinker in the garage, work in the garden, or toss a ball to his dog.
Those who knew Sean know that he worked hard, served selflessly, laughed contagiously, and protected those he loved fiercely. Through his strength of character and an even stronger faith in the God of the Bible, he overcame many post-military struggles to become an inspiring mentor and advocate for veterans and first responders who needed to know they weren’t alone. Many lives were touched because he went back into the trenches to bring people hope. His life and his work embodied the principle “Leave No Man Behind.”
Sean was funny, loyal, creative, hardworking, generous, and a natural leader. He never gave up and never stopped striving to help others and make a difference. He will be missed and loved forever.
He is survived by his wife, Sharlene; daughters, Amanda (Justin) and Katelyn; son, Michael (Lily); grandsons, Owen and Noah; sisters, Tammy (Scott) and Tanya (Carlos); his in-laws, Don and Barb; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws, all of whom he loved very much.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Judy; his grandparents, Harry and Maurine Knapp and Ed and Erma Haupt; his uncle, Steve; and his aunt, Kathy.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memoriam to the family, who will in turn donate a portion to Healing Household 6, a nonprofit organization that provides tangible resources and support to veterans and their families post-deployment.
A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, at Osceola Community Church, with a visitation held one hour prior to the service at church on Friday. A private family interment will take place at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner.
Arrangements are by Grandstrand Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Osceola. Condolences may be expressed online at grandstrand.com
