Obituaries : 'JR' John Robert Wallace Clapp

"JR" John Robert Wallace Clapp

VINTON - "JR" John Robert Wallace Clapp, 11, died unexpectedly Saturday, April 16, 2016, while playing with friends at Boy Scout Camp at Hickory Hills Park in rural La Porte City, Iowa.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 22, 2016 at Blessed Hope Church in Vinton with Rev. Matt Hantz officiating, burial will be at Cox Cemetery, rural Urbana, following the service.Visitation will be held at the church from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 21, and one hour prior to services on Friday.

JR was born August 17, 2004, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of John Wallace and Tina Ann Hardman Clapp. He was in the 5th grade at Vinton-Shellsburg Community Schools where he had worked on the yearbook and been awarded the Presidential Award.
JR was an active member of Blessed Hope Church in Vinton and had accepted Christ as his Savior prior to his baptism in 2015.
JR loved nature and being outdoors. He enjoyed riding on his golf cart, music and singing, video games, swimming, golfing, participating in Boy Scouts, making videos and working on art and craft projects. He loved spending time with his family. JR was a kind soul who was extremely loving and, in return, was well-loved by others. He touched a lot of lives in his short time on Earth.
JR is survived by his parents, John and Tina Clapp of Vinton; brothers Joe Ard of Cedar Rapids and Dennis Ard of Vinton; niece Vivian Ard of Cedar Rapids; grandparents Bonnie Rieks of Harpers Ferry and Harry and Cathy Hardman of Cedar Rapids; aunts and uncles: Ann and Chris Gilfillan, Tracy Keys, Jeff and Eileen Hardman, Karleen and Rex Oldham, Keith and Amy Rieks and Jeanette and Ryan Riggle; and cousins Brogan and Trey Keys, Khrystal (Aaron) Hardaway, Austin, Trevor and Autumn Hardman, Sasha Studer, Chloe, Dakota and Ryland Gunhus, Lexi, Brogan and Gabi Riggle, Justin and Kimberly Rieks, Jordan and Jaylin Van Lancer, Marissa Parizek and Dominick Sherman.
He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, John R. Clapp and Roger Rieks; great-grandparents Margaret Henecke and Harold B.T. and Marian Brown; uncle Jimmy Hardman and great-aunt Carolyn Ray.
A memorial fund has been established.
Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for JR and his family. Condolences may be left at vsrfh.com.