Fritz John Jappe Obituary (1916

Fritz John Jappe of Bremerton died peacefully and with dignity January 25, 2010. He was born December 31, 1916, to Fritz & Augusta Jappe in Big Sandy, MT, where he was raised and attended a one-room schoolhouse. He worked on a ranch operating heavy equipment to maintain roads/ditches & farm work until 1939. He worked for the Dept. of Agriculture (Grazing Div.) until enlisting in the Marine Corps (2nd Division) in 1940. He served 5 years, and fought in combat in Saipan, Tinian & Okinawa. One assignment was to assist local firefighters battling a raging brush fire in Lyon's Valley, San Diego Co. He noticed some firefighters being encircled by oncoming blazes. He cut a path to them with his bulldozer, moved them to the center of the untouched area, cut a wide firebreak along the fire line & patrolled it until the racing conflagration passed. He saved the lives of 30 Camp Elliott sailors. No medal was awarded. He received an honorable discharge at the rank of Sergeant in 1945. Then he worked at N.A.D. Bangor, operating all automotive, construction & weight handling equipment. He retired in 1974, then he operated/repaired diesel equipment for Arness Enterprises, Poulsbo, WA, on & off for several years. He met Dorothea Haase while living in the same Bremerton boarding house. He says he borrowed money from her for a '39 LaSalle, and married her October 25, 1947, instead of paying her back. They made Bremerton their home & raised 2 daughters. He is preceded in death by his wife, Dorothea, who passed away just days before their 63rd wedding anniversary in 2009, brothers August (Gus) & Henry (Heine), both of Big Sandy, MT, & sisters, Viola Remmington of Lewistown, MT & , Dorothea Markham of Tacoma, WA. He is survived by daughters Sandra Croswaite of Shelton & Judy Heath (Danny) of Port Orchard; grandson Trevor (Corriene) Croswaite & great-grandson Caden of Shelton; twin sisters Alma (Dickie) Foss & Alva (Happy) Carlson, both of Livingston, MT, & loyal friends Paul Halvorsen, Gene Anest & Brenda Zener. He enjoyed talking, bowling, raising dahlias, grafting fruit trees, dancing, fishing, chainsaw & lawnmower repairs, gardening, feeding squirrels, woodworking, having Sat & Sun morning coffee at McDonald's with friends, watching the Mariners, Seahawks & Packers, & time spent restoring an antique drag saw. A memorial service & reception will be held at 2:30pm, Wednesday, February 3, 2010, at Lewis Funeral Chapel, 5303 Kitsap Way, Bremerton, WA.