A5
THE ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021
OBITUARIES
Carolyn Jean Knapp
Astoria
Nov 20, 1941 — March 9, 2021
Carolyn Jean (Thomassen) Knapp, of was a very active member of the Asto-
Astoria, loving sister, wife, mother and ria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival
grandmother, passed away peacefully at and the Lower Columbia Danish Soci-
home on March 9, 2021, sur-
ety. She developed many spe-
rounded by her family.
cial friendships from all of
The oldest of three children
these activities.
of Bjarne and Margaret (Ras-
Over the years, Carolyn
mussen) Thomassen, Carolyn
also taught Sunday school at
was born shortly after Thanks-
church, and served as a 4-H
giving Day dinner on Nov. 20,
leader, and was a Start Mak-
1941, in Port Angeles, Wash-
ing A Reader Today reader
ington. It would be the only
in local schools, a cruise ship
time in her 79 years that she
host, a Court Appointed Spe-
would get to celebrate her
cial Advocate program volun-
Carolyn Knapp
birthday on Thanksgiving Day.
teer and much more.
In 1950, her father took a
After her children started
job building the Astoria Plywood Mill, school, Carolyn began working at Asto-
which moved the family of fi ve to Asto- ria High School. She has helped many
ria. Carolyn attended school in Astoria, students through their high school years,
and graduated from Astoria High School and kept in touch with many of “her
in 1960.
kids.” She also worked for a short time
She went on to attend Pacifi c Lutheran at Peter Pan Market, and enjoyed visit-
University for one year, until she met ing with the neighborhood people.
her future husband, while home on sum-
Carolyn developed many dear friend-
mer break. Carolyn married Lowell G. ships throughout her lifetime, but per-
Knapp on Dec. 2, 1961, in Astoria; they haps the one she treasured most was
celebrated 59 years of marriage this past the one she shared with her best friend,
December.
Becky Nelson. She and Becky were truly
In 1964, the couple settled in the John sisters at heart, having both grown up
Day area, building their forever home with only brothers. Carolyn’s family is
along the waterfront in Fernhill, shortly especially grateful for Becky and the
after their fi rst son’s birth. The family special friendship they shared.
expanded later to fi ve, with the birth of
Carolyn is survived by her husband
two daughters. Later in life, Carolyn and of 59 years, Lowell. She is also survived
Lowell adopted their oldest granddaugh- by a son and daughter-in-law, Robert
ter, Cari, whom they raised from the time and Anita Knapp; and daughters and
she was four months old until she went sons-in-law, Melinda (Mindy) and Keith
off to college.
Landwehr, Kimberly and Ben Lebeck
It was important to Carolyn to pass and Cari and John McGrath. She leaves
family traditions and her heritage onto behind her grandchildren, Jon Landwehr
her family. One way that she did this was and great-grandson, Jameson, Nick
through cooking, baking and Christmas (Haley) Landwehr and great-grandson,
ornament making.
Hudson, April (Jamie) Lebeck, Kaitlyn
Unfortunately, her love of cooked (Mason) Hoover and Jason Lebeck.
cabbage was not one that her family
Carolyn is also survived by two broth-
inherited. However, it did make a lasting ers and sisters-in-law, Dennis and Annie
impression on her older grandchildren, Thomassen and Jim and Joy Thomas-
who still remember the stinky smells that sen; brother-in-law, Mike Koskela; and
would sometimes come from grandma’s sister-in-law, Joan Knapp. She is also
kitchen.
survived by many nephews, nieces and
Carolyn also enjoyed sewing, knit- cousins, with whom she spent cherished
ting, and needlepoint, as well as time in their younger years.
scrap-booking.
The family requests donations be
Carolyn will be remembered for all made to h ospice, First Lutheran Church
of her volunteer activities in our com- Memorial Fund or Astoria Scandinavian
munity. She was very proud of her Nor- Heritage Association.
wegian and Danish heritage, and worked
A small service was held on March
with her dear friend, Bonnie Ladd, over 12, 2021, at First Lutheran Church,
the years, helping teach many, many which was recorded and can be viewed
young people Scandinavian dance.
by searching “Carolyn Knapp Memorial,
Carolyn also danced in the adult 3-12-21” on YouTube.com or by request-
group with her husband, Lowell. She ing a link from the family.
Ng Han Guan/AP Photo
Peter Ben Embarek of the World Health Organization team holds up a chart showing pathways
of transmission of the virus during a joint news conference at the end of the WHO mission in
Wuhan, China.
COVID-19 virus likely jumped to
humans from animals, WHO says
By JAMEY KEATEN
and KEN MORITSUGU
Associated Press
GENEVA — A joint World Health Organi-
zation-China study on the origins of COVID-
19 says that transmission of the virus from
bats to humans through another animal is
the most likely scenario and that a lab leak
is “extremely unlikely,” according to a draft
copy obtained by the Associated Press.
The fi ndings off er little new insight into
how the virus fi rst emerged and leave many
questions unanswered. But the report does
provide more detail on the reasoning behind
the researchers’ conclusions.
The team proposed further research in
every area except the lab leak hypothesis —
a speculative theory that was promoted by
former President Donald Trump among oth-
ers. It also said the role played by a seafood
market where human cases were fi rst identi-
fi ed was uncertain.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious
diseases expert, said he would like to see the
report’s raw information fi rst before deciding
about its credibility.
“I’d also would like to inquire as to the
extent in which the people who were on that
group had access directly to the data that
they would need to make a determination,”
he said. “I want to read the report fi rst and
then get a feel for what they really had access
to — or did not have access to.”
The report, which is expected to be made
public Tuesday, is being closely watched
since discovering the origins of the virus
could help scientists prevent future pandem-
ics — but it’s also extremely sensitive since
China bristles at any suggestion that it is to
blame for the current one.
Matthew Kavanagh of Georgetown Uni-
versity said the report deepened the under-
standing of the virus’s origins, but more
information was needed.
“It is clear that that the Chinese govern-
ment has not provided all the data needed
and, until they do, fi rmer conclusions will be
CONCEALED CARRY
PERMIT CLASS
MONDAY
APRIL 12 TH
NOON
diffi cult,” he said in a statement.
Last year, an investigation by the Asso-
ciated Press found the Chinese government
was strictly controlling all research into its
origins. And repeated delays in the report’s
release have raised questions about whether
the Chinese side was trying to skew its
conclusions.
“We’ve got real concerns about the meth-
odology and the process that went into that
report, including the fact that the government
in Beijing apparently helped to write it,” U.S.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a
recent CNN interview.
On Monday, the head of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention made an
impassioned plea to Americans Monday not
to let their guard down in the fi ght against
COVID-19, saying she has a recurring feel-
ing “of impending doom,” even as Presi-
dent Joe Biden announced further eff orts to
expand access to coronavirus vaccines.
Speaking during a virtual White House
briefi ng, Dr. Rochelle Walensky grew emo-
tional as she refl ected on her experience
treating COVID-19 patients who are alone at
the end of their lives.
“We have so much to look forward to, so
much promise and potential of where we are
and so much reason for hope,” she said. “But
right now, I’m scared.”
Cases of the virus are up about 10% over
the past week from the previous week, to
about 60,000 cases per day, with both hospi-
talizations and deaths ticking up as well, Wal-
ensky said. She warned that without imme-
diate action the U.S. could follow European
countries into another spike in cases and suf-
fer needless deaths.
Later Monday, Biden addressed the nation
from the White House, declaring, “If we let
our guard down now, we can see the virus
getting worse, not better. People are letting
up on precautions, which is a very bad thing.”
Biden delivered a direct appeal to gov-
ernors, state and local leaders to reinstate
mask-wearing requirements if they have
eased them.
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SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
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REGIONAL FORECAST
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Seattle
51 35
61 42
51 37
Periods of sun; Cloudy to partly
Rain and drizzle
cool
sunny
51 38
52 38
Variable
cloudiness
Showers
possible
50 38
49 38
A chance of rain
Showers
possible
Aberdeen
Olympia
52/32
54/36
Wenatchee
Tacoma
Moses
Lake
55/30
ALMANAC
UNDER THE SKY
TODAY'S TIDES
Astoria through Sunday
Tonight’s Sky: Cancer, the Crab,
below the Big Dipper, along with
Leo, the Lion.
Astoria / Port Docks
Temperatures
High/low ................................ 47/40
Normal high/low .................. 55/40
Record high .................. 75 in 1941
Record low .................... 28 in 1987
Precipitation
Sunday ..................................... 0.57”
Month to date ........................ 4.81”
Normal month to date ......... 6.80”
Year to date .......................... 32.76”
Normal year to date ........... 24.19”
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021
Time
High (ft.) Time Low (ft.)
2:56 a.m.
3:35 p.m.
8.9 9:33 a.m. -0.5
8.0 9:36 p.m. 0.8
Cape Disappointment
2:31 a.m.
3:06 p.m.
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
Hammond
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today .................. 6:59 a.m.
Sunset tonight ............... 7:42 p.m.
Moonrise today ........... 10:37 p.m.
Moonset today ............... 8:16 a.m.
Last
New
First
Full
2:43 a.m.
3:18 p.m.
Warrenton
2:51 a.m.
3:30 p.m.
Knappa
3:33 a.m.
4:12 p.m.
Depoe Bay
Apr 4 Apr 11 Apr 19 Apr 26
1:44 a.m.
2:21 p.m.
9.0 8:37 a.m. -0.6
8.0 8:42 p.m. 0.9
9.3 8:57 a.m. -0.7
8.4 9:03 p.m. 0.6
9.4 9:17 a.m. -0.4
8.4 9:20 p.m. 0.9
9.2 10:34 a.m. -0.4
8.2 10:37 p.m. 0.6
9.2 8:07 a.m. -0.7
8.2 8:11 p.m. 0.8
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Honolulu
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York City
Phoenix
San Francisco
Wash., DC
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
69/61/pc
57/47/s
61/34/pc
78/49/pc
40/24/c
82/71/sh
83/69/sh
83/60/s
86/75/pc
60/47/s
86/58/s
74/53/s
69/56/s
73/38/t
63/49/r
45/25/s
66/41/pc
51/29/s
82/70/sh
69/47/t
88/64/s
85/71/pc
63/41/r
88/62/s
77/53/s
64/44/r
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,
c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,
r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice.
56/33
Hermiston
The Dalles 61/28
Enterprise
Pendleton 46/25
56/32
60/33
La Grande
51/26
56/33
NATIONAL CITIES
Today
Hi/Lo/W
48/30
Kennewick Walla Walla
55/36 Lewiston
62/29
56/29
Salem
Pullman
60/29
Longview
51/35 Portland
57/35
50/30
Yakima 61/31
55/30
Astoria
Spokane
56/34
Corvallis
58/33
Albany
57/32
John Day
Eugene
Bend
58/32
58/31
51/27
Ontario
57/28
Caldwell
Burns
51/21
54/28
Medford
67/36
Klamath Falls
58/22
City
Baker City
Brookings
Ilwaco
Newberg
Newport
Today
Hi/Lo/W
54/23/s
62/46/s
50/38/pc
57/32/pc
51/36/pc
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
62/32/s
61/46/s
60/43/c
68/39/pc
58/42/s
City
North Bend
Roseburg
Seaside
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Today
Hi/Lo/W
54/40/s
62/35/s
51/35/pc
59/31/pc
57/32/pc
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
63/44/s
75/41/s
64/42/c
70/42/s
68/41/pc