Obituary: Repp, David
Age 97
REPP, David
Lifelong Colfax resident, passed away Thursday, May 10, 2012 at the Whitman Hospital.
He was 96.
Funeral Services will be held Monday, May 14th at 11:00 AM at Peace Lutheran Church in Colfax.
Burial with military honors will follow at the Colfax Cemetery.
David was born near Endicott at the family farm at Thera on May 29, 1915.
His parents were Peter and Anna Lautenschlager Repp, Volga Germans who had immigrated to this area like so many before them.
He spent his toddler years at the farm and attended a country school at Thera before the family moved to Colfax around 1922 and settled on Deanway Street overlooking town.
David graduated from Colfax High School and because times of the Depression were tough he took whatever jobs he could find.
These included things like clerking at the S. & S. Grocery or J.C. Penney, delivering groceries or planting trees and shrubs for the W.P.A.
He also found work on the Great Northern Railroad off and on when he could.
In 1940, when things in Colfax were really tough he rode the train to Wenatchee and worked in the orchards thinning, pruning and planting trees.
While attending a dance in Wenatchee he met Dorothy Smith and after courting her for exactly six weeks the couple married at the Repp home in Colfax November 9, 1940.
David began working at Gretencort’s Clothing Store in Colfax and was drafted into the U.S. Navy only two weeks before he would have become ineligible for the draft.
His son Dave was 18 months old when he went to serve his country.
His Naval training was at the Farragut Naval Station.
He saw duty overseas in Okinawa as a deck-hand, a gunner on a 20mm gun and also served as a helmsman until he took a job as cook in the commissary.
He was honorably discharged December 22, 1945 and made his way home to Colfax by Christmas Eve.
His second son, Gary, was born in 1947.
From 1945-1963 David worked at Gretencort’s Clothing.
He also drove school bus every morning since 1953.
David worked as a custodian in the Colfax High School for over 14 years and retired in 1980 at the age of 65.
He was a member of the American Legion, was very active in Peace Lutheran Church and held the distinction of being the oldest baptized member of the congregation and a past deacon of the church.
He loved to fish, enjoyed going for “Sunday” drives and never missed a high school sports game.
He liked spending time with his family and his grandchildren.
He was especially close to his brother Jim and the families lived side-by-side for over 65 years.
David leaves behind his loving wife of 71 years, Dorothy; his sons David, Jr. and Lyndell Repp, Colfax, and Gary and Sue Repp of Spokane Valley; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and his brother, Jim and wife Gloria Repp of Colfax.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Dorothy Weitz and Emma Repp.
The family suggests memorial gifts be made to Peace Lutheran Church in Colfax.
On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com
BRUNING FUNERAL HOME of Colfax is caring for the family.