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Daredevil’s funeral expected to draw crowd
By DAVE SHELTON
Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007 |
CLEARWATER – Death finally caught up with “America’s Daredevil.” Robert Craig “Evel” Knievel, 69, died on Nov. 30.
Knievel is to be laid to rest on Dec. 10 in the mountains of Montana, not far from where he was born and grew up. Unlike his life, the graveside ceremony is expected to be a private affair attended only by his family and closest friends. But, his sendoff is turning out to be as rakish as the dozens of events that almost always ended in broken bones and smashed motorcycles.
Butte, Montana Civic Center, which has room for 17,000, will mark his final jump – presumably over the pearly gates.
Knievel is to be buried near the graves of his beloved grandparents who raised him. Long before his death, Knievel ordered a white marble marker he had made to publicize his 1974 leap over the Snake River. It will be used as his headstone. It reads:
Robert ‘Evel’ Knievel.
Explorer
Motorcyclist and Daredevil
Family friend Alma Barry, of Butte, said her family had stored the marker in their hardware store for Knievel for more than 30 years before he reclaimed it three years ago knowing he was again facing death.
Knievel died after waking up in his Feather Sound condominium struggling for breath. He died as paramedics sped him to an area hospital. After daring the grim reaper more than 35 times he had succumbed to death from natural causes according to his official Web site.
During the past several years Knievel was on pain medications and oxygen 24 hours a day. He had diabetes and a chronic lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis. His spine was fused in three locations and caused him constant pain.
Knievel bought a condominium here during the 1990s to escape Montana’s cold weather – to sail his yacht and play golf when he could. He spent much of his time hanging out with cyclists in an area motorcycle shop.
Evel Knievel launched his career as a daredevil after failing to succeed in a motorcycle shop in Montana. In 1965 he formed a troupe called “Evel Knievel’s Motorcycle Daredevils” and toured the U.S., riding through walls of fire, jumping wild animals and being towed at 200 mph by dragsters.
In 1966 he went on his own, contracting to do stunts at Las Vegas casinos to draw crowds. Two years later he landed in a coma after clearing the fountains in front of Caesar’s Palace but crashing on landing.
Knievel’s stunts were then picked up by ABC Sports and his fame grew rapidly. His red, white and blue leather outfit became an icon and a toy motorcycle with a doll in that outfit is one of the most popular toys ever sold.
In 1974 he failed to succeed in jumping the mile-wide Snake River Canyon in Montana on a rocket-powered motorcycle.
Knievel’s wife, Krystal was at his side at his death. He is also survived by his former wife and childhood sweetheart, Linda. Despite their divorce, he remained close to her and their four children and grandchildren. One of Knievel’s sons, Robbie, has followed in his father’s footsteps as a motorcycle daredevil. Their other children are Kelly, Tracy and Alicia.
Krystal and Knievel were married in a Las Vegas casino in 1999. Knievel rode a motorcycle to the altar, wearing his famous star-studded leathers.
Knievel played himself in the 1977 movie “Viva Knievel”. In another film, he was played by George Hamilton and in 2004 Knievel was played by George Eads, now of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”
A man who has served his share of time in jails and prison, Knievel found God earlier this year, accepting Christ as his savior on national television in the Rev. Robert A. Schuller’s Crystal Cathedral.
News reports since his death have suggested a battle looms over Knievel’s estate, estimated to be worth millions. Among those contending for shares will reportedly be his current wife, Krystal; his former wife and children and an author who says Knievel still owes him millions of dollars in settlement over a beating inflicted by Knievel in 1977.
The daredevil and Linda divorced after a 38-year marriage in 1995 and he married Krystal in 1999.
Knievel once said, “I am not a hero. I was good at riding a motorcycle and a pretty good businessman. Not a hero.”
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Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007
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