DANIEL H. LANGPAAP

About

Porterville High School Virginia State University

DANIEL LANGPAAP Obituary

Daniel H. Langpaap passed away after a short illness on June 28, 2017, with his loving wife, son, and granddaughter by his side. Dan was a living, breathing embodiment of the Greatest Generation. Born in Honolulu, HI, on December 30, 1924, Dan was the youngest son of Hawaii Missionary, Max Langpaap, and moved with his family to Porterville, CA in 1929, at age five. Dan graduated from Porterville High School in 1943, and enlisted in the United States Army in 1943. He was a true rarity, Dan never drank, smoked or used bad language. He would sell his K-ration cigarettes to fellow soldiers and send the money home to his mother. He worked as an Army projectionist screening training films and features for the troops and worked a spotlight for entertainers. Dan was awarded the Bronze Star and fought in The Battle of the Bulge, his feet were frozen, and as a result, he spent three months in a hospital in Belgium. After the war, under the GI Bill, Dan attended Fresno State College and earned a degree in 1952. He met his wife of 65 years Darlene Neese, on a blind date, and it was love at first sight. Many career paths were available, Dan took an exam for the California Highway Patrol and had the second highest score in the State. A licensed pilot, he considered a career in aviation, but when a career in education called, Langpaap answered. When Clovis schools unified in 1960, Dan was picked by Doc Buchanan to be one of the original eight elementary school principals and earned a Masters Degree at Virginia State University. Dan was a trailblazing, sports minded administrator and baseball historian. Dan developed and directed the Clovis Elementary football carnival where several of NFL players including Quarterbacks Carson Palmer, Billy Volek, and David Carr, got their start. Fresno Bee Columnist, Milo Bryant, wrote that the annual event should be named after Dan Langpaap. ESPN anchor, Neil Everett, paid tribute to his friend on SportsCenter. After he retired, Dan incorporated his two passions, love of national parks and Fresno State Athletics, opened and operated D & D Tours, along with his wife, Darlene Langpaap, taking RedWave fans to events throughout the western United States and Hawaii. Some key locations were in Oregon, Utah, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Dan was preceded in death by his father Max; mother, Orah Dell; brother David; sister, Dorothy Cosby; and son, Stephen Ray Langpaap. A Memorial Service will be held at Lifeway Baptist Church, and a reception held at Torninos's, to be announced. Dan will be laid to rest with Military Honors at Punchbowl in Honolulu, HI.

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Published by Fresno Bee on Jul. 12, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for DANIEL LANGPAAP

13 Entries

Richard Cosby

July 8, 2021

Daniel Langpaap was drafted into WWII immediately after graduating from Porterville Union High School in 1943. He choose to become an army pilot, and was in flight school in Los Angeles, midway through the course, when the war in Europe stimulated the plan that led to "D-Day" and the invasion of the French coast by the allies. Dan's flight training was cancelled, and he found himself being retrained to be an infantryman. During this training, "D-Day" occurred while Dan was still stateside, but soon afterward, he was shipped east by troop train and then sent to the south of England and subsequently to France. He arrived just before the battle of the bulge began, and the battalion he was in were so rapidly deployed, that they had not been supplied winter gear when they were sent to the Bastogne front. In the beginning days of the Battle of the Bulge, it snowed heavily and the snow melt put ankle deep water in their muddy trenches which froze during the night. Snowed continuously. Early in his war experience he developed frozen feet, and could no longer wear boots. He was evacuated to Wales, where he spent 3 months in hospital, before being well enough to join his unit, by this time deep in Germany. He was in Germany when Victory in Europe was declared. His unit then received orders to the Pacific theater of war, and retraining and re-equipping began. While this was occurring, the atom bomb convinced Japan to surrender, and Dan's unit was ordered home, and he was discharged as soon as he arrived stateside.

His problems with his feet bothered his for the rest of his life, and he was recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs as a Disabled American Veteran. He also received the Blue Heart Ribbon, and the Bronze Star for his injuries acquired in the heat of that tremen-dous battle.

Jay and ellen Orman

August 6, 2017

Dear Darlene and family..
Our deepest sympathy with you at this trying time

Kayne McIntosh

July 27, 2017

Mr Langpaap was my principle at Cole elementary back in the early 80's, he was a great man and great Principle. RIP Mr. Langpaap. God bless you Sir.

Mary Enos

July 26, 2017

Special man, special memo.

Kathy Amacker-Colone

July 22, 2017

I was so saddened to hear of Dan's passing. I will keep the family in my thoughts and Heart. I have a lot of fond memories growing up together on Van Dyke Avenue. You will never be forgotten.

Sharon taber

July 13, 2017

Darlene, always remember that yesterday is gone, today is what it is, and always look forward to tomorrow. Remember the good times, and the bad times and make the very best of what you have right now.

Me and mine send our deepest condolences to you and yours.

Love you
Sharon

Mary Muehleisen

July 13, 2017

May your Dad rest in peace, Robert, and may you and your Mom and daughter find consolation in the words and kindnesses of friends at this sad time. May his love continue to surround you all. I will remember him always in my thoughts and prayers, especially as a watch our flag flying high in honor of yet another veteran I had the pleasure of knowing. God bless~~

Richard Cosby, MD FACP

July 12, 2017

I have known my Uncle Dan for all of the 79 years of my life. While I don't remember the first 3 years or so, I remember loving and respecting him for all of those years. I was 7 when he developed frozen feet because he had not yet been provided boots and cold weather uniforms when he arrived in Europe in November and was immediately posted to the front in the Battle of the Bulge. I was aware of the family's huge distress with worry when they heard he was injured and evacuated to a hospital in Wales. He recovered and rejoined his unit in Germany. I remember his homecoming. I remember his searching for his career after discharge, and choosing a series of potentials before finding his true calling, education and education administration. I remember his football prowess at Fresno State and his graduation. I remember his marriage to Darlene Neese, and their returning from an impoverished Southern California honeymoon starving, and announcing that they had managed to survive by eating only "potted meat" to afford the rest of their honeymoon. I worked with him on the Langpaap asparagus farm in Porterville's supreme heat. I was thrilled when each of his children were born and considered them my younger siblings when they were little. I watched with respect as he achieved wonderful things in his career for his community schools and his long involvement with the Y's Men. I was happy to see him return to graduate school and earn an MA in Education Administration at Hampton-Sidney University, Virginia. As I matured and aged with him, I enjoyed long conversations with him about myriads of topics. He was so widely informed and had a phenomenal memory. He and I shared an deep interest in history and enjoyed stimulating each other's thoughts. He encouraged me throughout my life, showing pride and respect for me in my career and marriage. I am so happy that he lived so long, and that, though his physical body was failing him in the last decade of his life, his mental accuity and love of sports remained keen until the end.

Carol Lewis

July 12, 2017

Dan was one of the dearest people I have ever known. As an administrator and team member, he led the way by example. I am saddened to hear of his passing, but know that he is in a far better place. He holds such a special place in my heart. My condolences.

Greg Kovacevich

July 12, 2017

An amazing life story for sure! The embodiment of the saying "they don't make them like that anymore" is so true in this outstanding, intelligent, smart, and loving man. I am so happy to of known him and be friends with his family and wish them all peace and rest in this hard time. He was a true joy!!!

Mike Hannah

July 11, 2017

I met Dan & Darlene in 1997 on my first trip with D & D tours to BULLDOG GAME AT THE air Force acadamy this was the first of many trips the wife & I enjoyed everone. from canada to oklahoma.

Patti Dahlstrom

July 11, 2017

Though I did not know Daniel directly, we communicated on occasion through his son, Robert, and his granddaughter. There is no finer judge of a man's character than the love of his family and the reflection of his values displayed by his children. The Earth was fortunate to have such a man walk its fields for a time. Meet me at the gate, Dan, and we'll catch up; it's a brief stroll here. Thank you for your service.

Neil Everett

July 11, 2017

Daniel Langpaap will be remembered for his kindness and his dudeness.

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