Grace (Birrer) Vap

ATWOOD -- Grace (Birrer) Vap, 93, died Monday (July 15, 2002) at the Cedar Living Center in Oberlin.

She was born Oct. 31, 1908, to William and Agnes (Beck) Birrer in Atwood. She graduated from Atwood Community High School in 1926. She attended Fort Hays State College the summer of 1926 and 1927 and Colorado State Teachers' College the summer of 1929. She received her teachers certificate and Elementary Emergency Certificate from 1943-44. She taught in Rawlins County for seven years.

On Oct. 31, 1931, she married Louis Vap at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Atwood.

She was a former member of Sts. Cyril & Methodius and Sacred Heart Catholic Churches, a member of the Christian Mothers Altar Society and a charter member of Driftwood Homemakers.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lou; her brother, Burton; and a daughter, Shirley.

Survivors include three daughters, JoAnn and husband, Eugene Reuber of Ludell, Jean and husband, Harold Focke of Atwood and Sylvia Mucklow of Fort Collins, Colo.; one son, John Vap and wife, Diane of Atwood; one brother, Ivan Birrer; and two sisters, Irene Gertson and Lucille Scott; 15 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, 10 a.m., at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Atwood with Father Damian Richards as celebrant. Interment will be in the Sts. Cyril & Methodius Cemetery in rural Atwood.

A parish vigil and Christian Mothers' rosary will be said today, 6:30 p.m., at Williams Funeral Chapel in Atwood.

Visitation is today until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given in her name to the Sts. Cyril & Methodius Cemetery Fund or to the Cedar Living Center in Oberlin.

Williams Funeral Home of Atwood is in charge of arrangements.