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In Memory

Doug Vap - Class Of 1957

DENVER, Colo. — Douglas F. Vap, 81, formerly of McCook, Neb., and former co-owner of Vap’s Seed and Hardware, died Dec. 5, 2020, in Denver. He was born in McCook on July 16, 1939, to Irene Jane (Traphagan) and Fredrick Peter Vap at St. Catherine’s Hospital. He was the first of four boys. Doug, Jerry, Gordon and John “T,” the “Vap boys,” were well known outside their home on Norris Avenue. Fred Vap coached all four in little league and encouraged each to earn his Eagle Scout awards. Doug attended St. Patrick’s school and is a 1957 graduate of McCook High School. The friendships he made in the class lasted a lifetime as he was active in making sure the Class of ’57 gathered for reunions (frequently at his house). He also worked hard to keep the Bison Newsletter in mailboxes across the country. After high school, Doug would attend college at Regis University in Denver, Colo.; University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., and finally graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., in 1962 with a degree in education. Needless to say, Doug loved college life and made many lifelong friends in the Sigma Chi fraternity. In 1968, Doug married Mary Eda (Tollefson) in her hometown of Gothenburg, Neb. They had two children Nicole and Aaron. After college, Doug taught high school English in schools around Denver. He returned to McCook in 1964 to work in his family business, Vap’s Seed and Hardware, formerly on East “B” street until it closed in 2012. His family says he believed in the “Lawn Fairy” until the day he died. Doug loved McCook and was active in the community and served on the boards of several non-profits. He joined the board of directors of the Southwest Area Training Services (SWATS) in 1978, a non-profit that provides vocational training for adults with intellectual disabilities. That work led him to serve on the West Central II board which built several group homes to provide that population with greater independence. Doug was also active in McCook’s Chamber of Commerce serving on the Airport committee 1985-2016 and the Ag committee from 1996-2006. He also served on the Nebraska Aeronautics Commission from 2001-2016 and acted as the Chairman of the commission in 2005 and 2012. In McCook, you could find Doug chatting with his friends in the front of his store or spot him driving around in any number of his distinctive vehicles. His most prized was his 1936 MG. Doug spent his weekends in the summers on sailboats at the lake, winters on skis in Colorado, or for many years circling the state in small planes over Southwest Nebraska. Survivors include his wife, Mary of Aurora, Colo.; children, Nicole Vap (Drew Sidener) of Denver, Colo., and Aaron (Alicia (Caton)) Vap of Minneapolis, Minn.; and four grandchildren. He’s also survived by his three brothers, Jerry (Sherry), Gordon (Jeanie) and John (Linda) along with 10 nieces and nephews. Services will be later in 2021 when people can again gather in person. Memorials can be given in his name to Southwest Area Training Services or Community Health Care and Hospice, both in McCook.

 

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https://www.mccookgazette.com/story/2852352.html