Frank Joseph Ernest Gapp

Frank JE Gapp, 93, of Eagan, MN, died peacefully surrounded by his family in his home on August 23, 2026. He was born on January 25, 1933, to Henry and Josephine Gapp in Walhalla, ND. Frank graduated from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, in 1956 with a degree in Philosophy. He was commissioned in the Air Force. His first assignment was Germany, where he met his wife, Christa. They were married in Kaiserslautern on April 11, 1959, and Sabina was born one year later. Then they moved to Boulder, CO, where Claudia was born while he earned a BS degree in Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado. Next, they spent 2 years in Okinawa, where Dennis was born. Frank spent a year in Thailand during the Viet Nam war, and later Remy was born when they were stationed in Grand Forks, ND (100 miles from where Frank was born).

He served for 21 years and retired in 1977 from Loring AFB in northern Maine. The family settled in Rochester, New Hampshire, where Frank worked as a structural engineer and renovated old buildings into low-income apartments. Frank and Chris moved to MN in 2011 to be closer to family, always his first priority.

From 1976 through 2012 Frank wrote letters and gave financial support to 14 foster children through Plan International. He was part of a Marriage Encounter team and served in Stephen Ministries. He enjoyed playing piano and Bridge, jogging, baking pies, and planting trees. He did everything with a joyful spirit and deep faith.

He is survived by his wife, Christa, daughters Sabina (David) Foote and Claudia (Richard) Mikos, and sons Dennis and Remy, twelve grandchildren, three great grandchildren and sister Anna (Jack+) Brombach.

He is preceded in death by brothers Allan, Phillip, Henry, Wilfrid and Lawrence.

A funeral will be on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at the Church of St. Peter, 1405 Sibley Memorial Hwy, Mendota, MN 55150. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am and Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, we welcome contributions to Food For The Poor: https://foodforthepoor.org/