from "The Rawlins County Square Deal" of Atwood KS, Thursday, 21-Oct-1999 edition.
Leonard Joseph Vap was born Nov. 3, 1927 to Joseph F. and Anna A. Kacirek Vap on the Vap homestead in Atwood, Kan. He died Oct. 6, 1999 at his home in Atwood at the age of 71 years.
He was a lifelong resident of Atwood. He worked for over 30 years at the Beaver Valley Roller Mill in Atwood. He retired from the Rawlins County Road and Bridge after 16 years of employment. He then continued to sell fireworks for the Boy Scouts of America and the 4-H Council. He mowed lawns for many widows in Atwood.
Leonard was a member of the National Guard during the Korean Conflict.
Leonard was united in marriage to Evelyn Deibert Aug. 29, 1950 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Colby, Kan. To this marriage, three children were born: James, Dale and Kathleen. The joys of his life included his faith and family, especially his grandchildren.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus #3033, Fourth Degree St. Pius X Assembly, Sacred Heart and Knights of Columbus choirs, was a church usher, 4-H leader, member of the Boy Scout district committee, worked with Little League Boys, and was in charge, along with his wife, Evelyn, of the Saturday potlucks at the Obert Senior Center in Atwood.
Preceding him in death were his parents; one brother, Melvin; and two sisters, Yvonne and Virginia.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn M. Vap of the home; two sons, James L. Vap and wife, Sharon and Dale E. Vap and wife, Shirley, all of Colby; and a daughter, Kathleen M. Vap of Atwood; two brothers, Leo Vap and wife, Ellen, of Stillwell, Kan., and Eugene Vap and wife, Gretchen, of Petaluma, Calif.; three sisters, Sister Joseph Ann Vap and Ramona Hanson and husband, Bill, all of Salina, Kan., and Geraldine Lane of Topeka, Kan.; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; James Vap Jr., wife, Jennifer, and children, Morgan and Alexander, of Colby, Patricia Vap of Overland Park, Kan., Jason Vap and wife, Joey, and daughter, Kaitlyn, of Shreveport, La., Joshua Vap of Atlanta, Neb., Michele and husband, Ryan Cassaw, and children, Shelby and Clay, of Colby, Paul Andrijeski of Hays, Kan., and Andrew Andrijeski and Michael McDougali, both of the home in Atwood; a special niece, Tami Quade of Baytown, Texas; his mother-in-law, Marcella Whisler of Atwood; an aunt, Agnes Kantor of Atwood; two uncles, Joseph Kacirek of Omaha, Neb., and Norbert Kacirek of Denver, Colo.; and many other family members too numerous to mention, as well as friends who will miss him.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Oct. 11 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Atwood with Father Damian Richards as celebrant. Interment was in Mount Calvary Cemetery with military honors by the American Legion Sam Hubbard Post #46 of Atwood and the Colby Honor Guard.
The lector was Tom Marks; Mass servers, Barry and Tanner Schmidt; Eucharistic ministers, Dorothy Reinert, Lillian Green and Lee Leiker and offertory gift bearers, granddaughters, great-granddaughters and great-grandson. Linda Ruda was the organist and Sacred Heart Choir was the cantor with congregational singing. Fourth Degree St. Pius X Assembly was the honor guard.
Casket bears included James Vap Jr., Jason Vap, Joshua Vap, Rell Barnhart, Paul Andrijeski, Andrew Andrijeski, Ryan Cassaw and Scott Urban.
A parish visit and Knights of Columbus rosary was said Oct. 10. Memorials may be addressed to the Knights of Columbus Hall Fund.
Williams Funeral Home of Atwood was in charge of the arrangements.
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His father Joseph (1901-1986) was the son of Frederick Vap and Frances Pochop. His mother Anna (1908-1990) was the daughter of John F. Kacirek and Victoria Waiss.