Evel Knievel’s Death – Cause and Date
Evel Knievel, the legendary daredevil known for his breathtaking motorcycle stunts, passed away on November 30, 2007, at 69.
Achievements
He was born Robert Craig Knievel, Jr. and was a famed daredevil motorcyclist and cultural icon who jumped over 50 cars at the L.A. Coliseum.
Knievel was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for having “the most broken bones in a lifetime” after failing to jump Snake River Canyon in a steam-powered rocket.
At 38 years old, the daredevil made his last jump. The longest distance Knievel jumped throughout his career measured 133 feet or 40.5 meters, a distance equal to fourteen Greyhound buses.
Personal life
His first marriage was to Linda Bork between 1959-1997, with whom he had sons Robbie and Kelly and girls Tracey and Alicia. In 1999, he married the much younger Krystal Kennedy, a woman half his age. They divorced two years later in 2001.
Death
Knievel passed away in Clearwater, Florida, on November 30, 2007. He was 69. For an extended period, he had battled diabetes and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
According to a close friend, Knievel experienced difficulty breathing at his Clearwater residence and succumbed while en route to the hospital. The friend expressed, “It’s been coming for years but you just don’t expect it. Superman just doesn’t die, right?”
Funeral and Burial
On December 10, 2007, Knievel was laid to rest at Mountain View Cemetery in Butte, Montana, his hometown. The funeral took place at the 7,500-seat Butte Civic Center, officiated by Robert H. Schuller, with actor Matthew McConaughey delivering the eulogy.
Before the Monday service, fireworks illuminated the Butte night sky while pallbearers carried Knievel’s casket into the center.
Quotes
""I love the feeling of the fresh air on my face and the wind blowing through my hair."
""I decided to fly through the air and live in the sunlight and enjoy life as much as I could."
""If you don't know about pain and trouble, you're in sad shape. They make you appreciate life."
""I wish there was such a thing as reincarnation."
""You are the master of your own ship, pal. There are lots of people who fall into troubled waters and don't have the guts or the knowledge or the ability to make it to shore. They have nobody to blame but themselves."