Floyd Willard Japhet

1928 - 2025

Floyd Willard Japhet

April 10, 1928 - July 3, 2025

Summit Lake, Washington - It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Floyd Willard Japhet passed away in his home on July 3rd, 2025, due to natural causes. He was 97 and lived for more than 70 years on Summit Lake, near Olympia Washington. A pillar of his family and community, many have been blessed to have known Floyd. While we grieve his loss, let us honor him by holding his memory close to our hearts.

Floyd was born in Iola, Kansas on April 10, 1928, and lived on a farm with hard-working parents Willard and Maude Japhet, older brother Fred, and younger brother Jim. When he was three years old, the family pulled stakes and moved to Tacoma, Washington, making the trip in a 1928 Essex, with a 50-gallon drum of gas strapped to the back. They spent several years in Tacoma, where brother Carl (Binge) was born. The family worked through the difficult years of The Great Depression and built a new life in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. The Japhet's enjoyed exploring and visited nearly every lake in the south sound before eventually discovering Summit Lake in 1941. Willard was sold. He purchased three lots from Weyerhaeuser and the family built the first permanent residence on the Lake. William (Butch), and Robert (Bob), joined the family, bringing the total to six Japhet boys.

In 1946, Floyd joined the United States Navy. He served during the World War II era, the Korean Conflict era, and during peacetime as well. Back home in 1948, he met and fell in love with Grace Kreutzkamp at a friend's graduation dinner. He said that she just about made his heart jump out of his chest that day. The two got married on July 30, 1949, and a few years later they purchased three lots on Summit Lake. They didn't have much, but they had each other, and with their strong work ethic, they made that land their home. Floyd and Grace went on to have six children, Jim, Don, Linda, Peggy, Joe, and John, and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. Together they made many lasting memories at the lake. One of Floyd's favorites was when he and Grace, who was pregnant at the time, skated along on the ice covering the lake during a particularly cold winter. Floyd recalled that it was more like pulling Grace along the entire way. Things were going well until he tripped Grace, and she fell on her face. Relieved that she wasn't hurt, they got up, laughed it off, and skated on.

Floyd enjoyed helping his family, and his many friends and neighbors. He served as the President of the Summit Lake Community Association, volunteered as fire chief for the Summit Lake Fire Department and helped fund and build the Summit Lake Community Church. He was a logger and enjoyed working with his hands and running equipment. Among other things, Floyd worked as a tree topper, gas station attendant, and dozer operator, and worked swing shift at the Simpson Door Company in McCleary, WA. In 1952he founded Japhet Bulkheading Inc., which he operated with his four sons until he retired. For fun, Floyd enjoyed fishing, hunting, and building furniture from lumber that he sawed in his sawmill from local trees, many from his own property.

Those who were fortunate to know Floyd Japhet will no doubt miss him dearly. The 72 years that he lived in the community made him not just a resident, but truly a cornerstone of Summit Lake. His memory will live on in the lives of those he so profoundly affected.

Floyd's Celebration of Life Memorial will be held on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Summit Lake Community Church, Olympia, Washington.