DANIEL H. LANGPAAP

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Porterville High School Virginia State University

DANIEL LANGPAAP Obituary

Dan H. Langpaap, age 92, was called home on June 28, 2017. Dan was a Clovis Unified School District elementary principal for 34 years. He served in the United States Army during the Battle of the Bulge. He was a lifetime member of the Clovis Y's Men's Club and operator of D&D Tours with Darlene. Dan is survived by Darlene, his wife of 68 years; daughter, Karen Brown; son, Robert Langpaap; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at Lifeway Baptist Church 4250 W. Bullard Ave., Fresno, CA, on Thursday, July 27, 2017, at 1:30 p.m.

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Published by Fresno Bee on Jul. 23, 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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