Col. Sapp Obituary (1922 - 2004)

WINTHROP - Retired Army Col. John J. Sapp, 81, of Winthrop died unexpectedly in his sleep at home on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2004. Col. Sapp was born in Portland on April 30, 1922, the son of Ray J. and Dora L. (Herman) Sapp. He graduated from Portland High School in 1940 and was inducted into federal service as a member of the 240th Coast Artillery, Maine National Guard, on Sept. 16, 1940. He was on duty at Fort Williams at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor and remained on active duty with the Artillery and Missile Branch at various locations until Oct. 17, 1945. He was discharged as a first sergeant. Upon discharge he went to work for the Portland Co. in Portland as an iron molder in the foundry. Two years later he went to work in the company office in the order department and as an expediter in the shops. He eventually became advertising manager, illustrator and technical artist, designing company advertising and machinery brochures. Col. Sapp designed and built trade-show displays to advertise the company products, and he traveled with them to major shows in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco and other areas in the textile, graphic arts, plastics and packaging industries. During this time, Col. Sapp rejoined the Maine Army National Guard (in January 1947) and was instrumental in helping organize and activate a National Guard unit in Portland. Because of demonstrated ability as a first sergeant during World War II, he received a direct commission as a lieutenant with duties as battery commander of the 240th AA Headquarters Battery. Col. Sapp left the Portland Co. in 1968 and moved to Winthrop to join the adjutant general's department at Camp Keyes, Augusta, to become assistant G-1 for personnel. As a general staff officer, he also served as the state safety officer and developed the State Awards and Decorations Program for the Army and Air National Guard; he established the federal program to administer to the approximately 600 full-time Army and Air National Guard personnel throughout the state. While in the service, Col. Sapp had the distinction of serving in all of the enlisted grades from private to first sergeant while on active duty during World War II, and he achieved all of the commissioned officer ranks from lieutenant to colonel by the time he was discharged from the National Guard in 1983. His combined service totaled more than 41 years. He attended military schools and is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He received the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, American Defense Service, American Campaign and various other awards and medals. Long interested in Maine military service and history, he was a founder of - and was instrumental in recruiting a few like-minded National Guardsmen in developing - a military museum. An old stable at Camp Keyes was renovated with help from National Guard troops, and the Maine Military Historical Society Museum was opened on Oct. 12, 1988. Col. Sapp spent much of the winter of 1987-88 designing displays and painting wall murals in the then-unheated building. On Dec. 20, 1999, he was awarded the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of his efforts in creating and operating the military museum. He was an artist, woodworker, builder, gardener, all-around handyman and a collector of military memorabilia and antique weapons. He became interested in the Winthrop Community Wall Mural activity and had been a member of the committee for several years, helping to design the murals and paint them. Col. Sapp was a member of First Baptist Church in Portland and East Winthrop Baptist Church in East Winthrop. While at East Winthrop Baptist Church, he served on many committees and was the church moderator and an elder. He painted and donated to the church three large, stained glass-type paintings that now adorn the sanctuary. They depict the Nativity and the Ascension. A life-size painting shows Jesus blessing children. He was also a member of Hope Baptist Church in Manchester and served there as an elder. He was a member of Ralph D. Caldwell Post 129 American Legion of Woodfords, serving as post adjutant and post commander. He was a graduate of the American Legion College in Indianapolis, and was a member of Alfred W. Maxwell Post 40 of Winthrop. Col. Sapp was a life member of the National Guard Association and the Maine Military Historical Society. He was also a member of the Winthrop Rotary Club and the National Rifle Association. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy (Mercer) Sapp of Winthrop; three daughters, Joan Meier of St. Pete Beach, Fla., Karen Jackson of Norwich, Vt., and Marilyn Jones of Bucksport; one son, John Sapp Jr. of Mahomet, Ill.; a sister, Fern Calderwood of South Portland; a brother, Joseph Sapp of South Portland; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandson; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Relatives and friends are invited to visit 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop. A celebration of his life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, at Hope Baptist Church in Manchester, with the Rev. Glenn Peterson officiating, followed by a noon committal service with military honors and interment in the chapel at the new Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Mount Vernon Road in Augusta. Memorial donations may be made to Hope Baptist Church, P.O. Box 363, Manchester 04357. www.khrfuneralhomes.com