Samuel J. Lapp

Samuel J. Lapp, 83, of Lansdale, died Friday, December 23, 2022. For 58 years he was the beloved husband of Helen (Longenecker) Lapp, who died November 30, 2021.

Sam was born November 16, 1939 in Lansdale to the late John and Edith (Nyce) Lapp, the middle of nine siblings. Early in life he was identified as gifted with tools and machinery, and in adulthood he began to develop his intellectual and artistic talents. He was grounded in his local community and the Mennonite tradition he was formed within, while following an attraction for global experiences and learning from people with different life experiences from his own. His occasional penchant for introversion coincided with his love of people and lively conversation.

After graduating from Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, Sam worked in the construction trades before embarking on studies at Eastern Mennonite College at the urging of his older sister. Although he did not yet excel in traditional school, there in the Shenandoah Valley he fell in love with Helen Longenecker, an English major. Sam described their budding relationship as "an authentic academic dating a fun-loving goof-off and looming drop-out." A registered conscientious objector, he was soon called to alternative service as a community development worker in Honduras for two years before returning to the Lansdale area in 1963.  There he worked as an electrician for Bergey's Electric and began his early years of marriage to Helen.

In time Sam felt the pull to further education, and moved with Helen to Newton, Kansas to earn a B.S. in industrial arts at Bethel College. During this second try at college he discovered his own authenticity as an academic and won the coveted Bethel College Thresher award in industrial arts. Upon return to Lansdale he began a 25-year career as a teacher and technology education supervisor at Wissahickon High School in Ambler, where he was recognized with several teaching awards. He later earned an M.A. in industrial education from The College of New Jersey. For nearly 30 years Sam and Helen lived in the house Sam was born in on Allentown Road.

Throughout his life Sam found outlets for his interest in international service. In 1973 he returned to Honduras for four months to co-lead a Goshen College Study-Service Term with Helen and their two young children. During a two-year leave of absence from Wissahickon School District from 1979-1981, Sam and Helen moved with their three children to Kingston, Jamaica where they worked as country representatives for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). After retiring from teaching in 1992 Sam began a five-year term as administrator of Camp Men-O-Lan in Quakertown. In 1997 he and Helen moved to Cairo, Egypt to serve for one year with MCC as interim country representatives.

Sam worked again at Camp Men-O-Lan as director of development for several years before full retirement. Sam and Helen later were volunteer coordinators for a year at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana and also volunteered as hosts for three months at Menno-Hof in Shipshewana, Indiana. He was frequently called upon as a substitute teacher at Dock Mennonite Academy during his retirement years.

Sam was a life-long member of Plains Mennonite Church in Hatfield where he used his gifts for various terms as a youth group leader, elder, Christian education director, worship leader, and Sunday school teacher. Inspired by his Christian faith, he believed in the work of people and institutions to build peace and increase justice. Along with Helen he found joy in supporting organizations with missions that extend opportunity. Together they established a scholarship fund through the Philadelphia Foundation for young people who give time to peacebuilding efforts.

Although he had limited opportunities to use his athletic skills in childhood and youth, Sam loved organized sports and closely followed teams ranging from high school level to professional. For several years he tracked statistics and watched live-streamed competitions from Goshen College and Eastern Mennonite University. A formidable croquet player, he enthusiastically shared strategy and technical advice with players of all levels.

Throughout his life Sam nurtured his vocation as a sculptor, working with wood, metal, and stone. He leaves the world with more than 100 sculptures that range from abstract to whimsical to functional. Anyone who has a Sam Lapp sculpture is invited to bring it to the worship platform for display during his memorial service.

Sam's singular gift of humor brought life and joy to many social gatherings, and with Helen he extended warm and gracious hospitality to others. He enjoyed telling jokes and stories that had a bit of shock value, but usually avoided going too far. He was an exceptional conversationalist who made others feel his genuine interest in the details of their lives. As he dealt with the trials of terminal cancer this past year he modeled patience, transparency, and gratitude.

Survivors include his children, George Anthony  Lapp (Ana Lisa Yoder) of Philadelphia, Beverly Lapp (Dale Klassen) of Goshen, IN, and David Lapp (Amy Hochstetler) of Philadelphia; six grandchildren, Greta, Naomi, Maggie, Edwin, Oliver, and Jaiel. His eight siblings also survive: John A. Lapp of Goshen, Mary Swartley of Goshen, James Lapp (Miriam Book) of Ephrata, Daniel Lapp of Lansdale, Joseph Lapp (Hannah) of Harrisonburg, VA, Sara Kolb (Noah) of Lansdale, Ruth Lapp Guengerich (Ron) of Goshen, and Rhoda Lapp of Stone Mountain, GA. He also leaves behind dozens of beloved nieces and nephews. Sam was preceded in death by a grandson, Javid.

Dorothy Kratz of Souderton was a treasured special friend to Sam during the final nine months of his life. His local siblings Dan and Sara were loyal companions who greatly supported Sam and his children during his end-of-life journey. The family is grateful for the community and skilled support that Sam experienced at Dock Woods Retirement Home and for the compassionate care he received from Grandview Hospice.

Relatives and friends may call between 5:30 and 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at Plains Mennonite Church, 50 W. Orvilla Road, Hatfield. A graveside service for friends and family will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, December 29 at Plains Mennonite Cemetery. A visitation will follow from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Thursday at Plains Mennonite Church, with the funeral service at 3:00 p.m. Arrangements are by the Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home, Lansdale. For those unable to attend the service, it can be viewed with the following link: https://youtu.be/4jWcAZQybO4

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Sam's memory to the Mennonite Central Committee, 21 South 12th Street, PO Box 500, Akron, PA 17501, or online at https://donate.mcc.org/ .