Delmar Lee Japp

Delmar Japp of Spokane passed away peacefully on January 27, 2021, due to congestive heart failure complications worsened by COVID-19. His six children surrounded him via live stream at Holy Family Hospital in Spokane, WA. Del was born April 23, 1944, in Sterling, Colorado, to Delmar and Nira (Stewart) Japp. He grew up in Sterling, developing a love for the outdoors and sports. Del graduated from Sterling High School in 1962. He later attended the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, graduating in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in education. While there, he played basketball and was part of the 1965-66 team that set the program’s record for most wins. In 2009, his team was inducted into the UNC Basketball Hall of Fame.

Del married in 1962 and had 4 children. He divorced and remarried in 1975 and had two children.

He worked as a teacher, athletic coach and later retired with NFIB.

Del had a larger-than-life personality and loved spending time with his family and friends. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and golfing.  However, his greatest passion was for the game of fastpitch softball.  Del's talent led to an induction into the Inland Empire Softball Hall of Fame. “Japper” was a feared pitcher with incredible speed and accuracy.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Delmar and Nira (Stewart) Japp.  He is survived by 2 sisters, Bonnie (Stan) Kloberdanz and Janice (Gary) Gilson, 6 children, 22 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Rhonda (Greg) Anderson. Jennifer (Scott) Cozen (Andy), Jonathan (Molly) Anderson, (Mac and Teddy), and Madison Anderson.

Jamie (Tim) Pribble.  (DJ, Derek, Taylor and Timmy)

Kelli Smith. (Kylan, Kody and Kasey)

Nicole (Mark) Gibson. (Karlee and Kobe)

Joshua (Alicia) Japp. (Chad, Jordan, Emma, Jaidyn, Kenzie and Ryder)

Ashleigh (Max) Distler. (Tayler, Dominic, Grace and Zoey).

In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Hutton Settlement

http://www.huttonsettlement.org

422 W. Riverside 

Suite 931

Spokane, WA 99201

The funeral service will be Friday February 12th  at 1:00pm

Hennessey Funeral Home

2203 N Division St, Spokane, WA 99207

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