Spotlight: Women in End of Life Professions

Danielle Knapp

Danielle lives in Clive, IA and is passionate about humanizing funeral directors, the funeral profession, promoting the value of end-of-life services, fostering collaborative partnerships, and ensuring that all funeral professionals feel valued and appreciated.

When she isn’t working, Danielle enjoys spending time with her children, her grandson and friends, attending concerts, reading, hiking, traveling, biking, and watching a good documentary.

Danielle Knapp Spotlight
CEO and Executive Director, Iowa Funeral Directors Association

“Honoring the funeral directors who selflessly volunteered during the United Flight 232 crash in Sioux City, Iowa, and having the opportunity to share their stories with others, was both humbling and deeply inspiring.”

An Advocate For Iowa’s Funeral Directors

Daughter, sister, mother, grandma, friend, and funeral service professional—Danielle has embraced these roles with dedication and love, each one holding a special place in her heart. Danielle began her career in funeral service in 2002, inspired by the death of her Dad in 1999. Over the years, she has built a diverse and impactful career. She has worked with preneed insurance companies, served as a funeral assistant, co-owned and managed the day-to-day operations of a monument company, cared for families as a certified funeral celebrant and grief counselor, and held key positions such as Partner
Development Manager for Matthews Aurora and Director of People Development at Park Lawn Corporation. Currently, she is the CEO of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association.

Danielle lives in Clive, IA and is passionate about humanizing funeral directors, the funeral profession, promoting the value of end-of-life services, fostering collaborative partnerships, and ensuring that all funeral professionals feel valued and appreciated. When she isn’t working, Danielle enjoys spending time with her children, her grandson and friends, attending concerts, reading, hiking, traveling, biking, and watching a good documentary.

Buried in Work Podcast

Episode 16 | From Grief to Healing: A Funeral Director’s Journey with Danielle Knapp

Get To Know Danielle

  • How did you first get into this work?

    A few years after my dad died by suicide, I found myself searching for a meaningful career—one that could help me make sense of loss and offer support to others in their darkest moments. That search led me to funeral service in 2002. Within just a few months—maybe even less—I knew I had found my calling. I started my journey in the preneed insurance industry, and from there, built a career grounded in purpose and compassion. Through dedication, the guidance of incredible mentors, supportive colleagues who believed in me, and a lot of hard work, I’ve been able to grow both personally and professionally in a field that continues to inspire me every day.

  • What keeps you doing it?

    The funeral directors and love for this profession.

  • Who has mentored, inspired, or encouraged you along the way?

    I’ve been fortunate to work alongside many wonderful, forward-thinking professionals in funeral service. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of learning from some of the very best in the profession, each one teaching me something valuable about both funeral service and about myself. Across the country, I’ve connected with countless individuals whose support, guidance, insight, and collaboration have helped shape me into a stronger leader. But it is the funeral directors I’ve had the honor to know and work with who continue to be my greatest source of inspiration. Their compassion, resilience, and dedication to serving others truly define the heart of this profession.

  • One piece of advice for women entering this profession.

    Advocate for yourself. Build a strong network and seek mentorship. Recognizing your value is essential and connecting with other women who are like-minded while respecting the

  • Favorite moment or memory from your work so far.

    After 23 years in this profession, there have been countless meaningful moments—but without a doubt, one of the greatest highlights of my career has been working on the Flight 232 documentary. Honoring the funeral directors who selflessly volunteered during the United Flight 232 crash in Sioux City, Iowa, and having the opportunity to share their stories with others, was both humbling and deeply inspiring. It reminded me of the quiet strength and unwavering compassion that define our profession at its absolute best.

  • What’s a surprising skill or fun fact about you?

    I had cake with President Richard Nixon and First Lady, Pat Nixon for Pat’s birthday at Bennigans in Paoli, PA. I still have the napkin with President Nixon’s note.

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