Charles Henry Clapp Jr.

1934 - 2023

DANVILLE - Charles Henry Clapp Jr., 89, of Danville passed away Thursday (Sept. 28, 2023) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.

Born Aug. 7, 1934, in Danville, he was the son of Charles Henry Clapp Sr. and Bernice P. Lamb Clapp. They preceded him in death, along with an infant brother, Harry.

He grew up in State Line, Ind., and married Barbara Jeanne Dines on Dec. 11, 1954, in Danville. She passed on Feb. 6, 2012. He married Teresa Wasson on Jan. 6, 2016. She survives.

An inductee into the Vermilion County (Illinois) Business Hall of Fame in 2013, Henry was an admired local business leader and a foremost expert in the aerosol packaging industry. He was a founding partner of Full-Fill Industries in Henning in 1999 and helped build the small family business into one the largest food aerosol manufacturers in the country. He worked at the Henning plant until age 86. He also founded Clapp Industries Corp. in Potomac in 1982. It later became Creative Products of Rossville.

He attended the University of Illinois, studying chemistry, and began his career in 1952 in the laboratory at Continental Filling Co. (later Aerosol Technics Inc.) in Danville. He eventually became the plant's general manager.

Henry served in the U.S. Army at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio and worked as a phlebotomist at Brooke Army Medical Center. He later was in the U.S. Army Reserves.

He graduated from Bismarck High School in 1952, where he played basketball and baseball and was on the track team. He was an avid bowler and played industrial league softball. He also enjoyed golf, fishing trips and crossword and jigsaw puzzles. He loved spending time on the beach at Anna Maria Island, Fla. He liked studying history and was highly skilled in math, chemistry and manufacturing processes. He also loved all sports and was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears and University of Illinois Fighting Illini. He attended many events involving his grandchildren at Bismarck-Henning schools. Henry also supported many local community causes. Mostly, though, Henry enjoyed time with his family.

Survivors include his daughter, Catherine S. Owen (Jeffrey) of Franklin, Ind.; three sons, David L. (Lisa), Steven L. (Cheryl) and Jonathon W. (Deanne) Clapp of Danville; 10 grandchildren, Adam (Kim) Owen of Columbus, Ind., Marissa (Babak) Shafei of Houston, Britney (Zach) Downs of Fishers, Ind., Brian (Hiliary) Clapp of Danville, Brandon (Jolyn) Clapp of Danville, Emma Clapp of Ann Arbor, Mich., Kevin Clapp of West Lafayette, Ind., Kelsie Clapp of New York, Natalie Clapp of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Mason Clapp of Danville; and seven great-grandchildren, Lilly and Samuel Downs, Ryder, Rowan and Jaclyn Clapp and Ava and Liam Shafei.

The family would like to thank the many friends and Henry's co-workers at Full-Fill Industries for their love and support over the years and to the provider team at Carle Foundation Hospital for their care of Henry.

A celebration of life will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 2, at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 3940 N. Vermilion St., Danville. Pastor Kent Tibben will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made in Henry's memory to a charity of the donor's choice.

Please join Henry's family in sharing memories, photos and videos on his tribute wall at sunsetfuneralhome.com.