Born on the family farm in Walhalla, ND, CJ was the second youngest of eight children. He attended elementary school near the family farm, then graduated high school at St Aloysius Academy in Oakwood ND. CJ attended Interstate Business College in Fargo, ND, then joined the Army. He proudly served from 1956-1958 in the 100th Rocket Battalion in Okinawa, Japan.
After completing his military service, CJ moved to Seattle WA, where he talked a cabinet company into hiring him, though he had never made a cabinet before in his life. He soon met and married JoAnn Campanella in 1960. They moved to Grafton ND and started their family there. Arlene (Haukap), Sandra “Sandie” (Campanella), Dale (Gapp) and Linda (Perry) were born in Grafton. CJ managed an oil and gas bulk delivery service for Nash Grain and Trading CO at Nash, ND. He drove the gas truck like it had a Hemi and once went airborne (“caught air”) while navigating a hilly county road. He clearly survived to tell the tale and later mentioned seeing glimpses of the pearly gates before he landed, completely intact (described less eloquently at the time).
CJ and his lovely family sought greener pastures and moved to CO in 1966 as soon as an epically horrible blizzard cleared enough to travel. After finding career inspiration in a Boulder CO dumpster, CJ adapted an abandoned AC unit for car air conditioning use and soon attended National Electronics Institute in Denver, specializing in refrigeration. While there, CJ met his future business partner and co-founder, John Merck. CJ and JoAnn’s fifth child, Dean, was born in Denver in 1968 at the exact same moment the family moved to Fort Collins and CJ and John opened Poudre Valley Appliances. So, two great things were born that week: Deannie and Poudre Valley Appliances. I think it’s fair to say that was a relatively busy time.
Poudre Valley Appliances was wildly successful. CJ was a member of the Downtown Merchants Association and loved nothing more than building relationships (schmoozing) and perfecting his natural gift of buying and selling virtually anything to just about anyone. Dale and Dean eventually worked for Poudre Valley Appliances and upon your request, can share stories of their colorful delivery adventures.
CJ sold his share of Poudre Valley Appliances after 16 years. He and Dean started Gapp’s Appliances and sold that lucrative business six years later. CJ pretended to retire but soon started his own home improvements business. After that venture wound down and CJ realized working hard manual labor was kind of silly after all those years, he became the Craigslist King, recognizing the value of used goods for sale. He bought low, sold high and convinced people they simply couldn’t live without whatever items he had for sale. With CJ, Craigslist became a verb, known as Craigslisting. For CJ, Craigslisting was an art. He specialized in buying luxurious, opulent cars, SUVs, boats, riding lawnmowers and virtually anything with an engine. He was the used merchandise champion and thrived on negotiating and coming out ahead. Some of his reconditioned prizes even won trophies. I’m sure we all remember his beloved red El Camino (Best in Show) and a relatively huge Mustang collection.
CJ loved and lived for his family. He enjoyed watching the kids grow up and become useful adults. CJ was proud of his children and celebrated their accomplishments, always engaging in bragging rights. Though he and JoAnn divorced in 1978, they remained lifelong friends, supportive of one another through life’s many trials, tribulations and triumphs.
CJ enjoyed camping, driving, boating, traveling (domestically AND internationally, he wanted you to know), cooking, dining out and telling stories. He prided himself on sharing his extensive library of old man jokes that technically weren’t funny, but made his audiences laugh because telling the jokes made him so happy. CJ always loved to help and there was nothing he couldn’t fix, including the occasional broken heart. For jobs beyond his scope, he said, “I know a guy.” And things were fixed. CJ’s love language was providing and giving gifts; he made sure his family and friends had everything they needed. In fact, he frequently gifted items we didn’t need, but he wanted to be sure we were covered. Realistically, when there’s a sudden and unexpected global shortage of George Foreman grills, you will feel fortunate you already have the full size AND mini versions on hand.
CJ loved and laughed greatly for 88 years. He is survived by his children and their spouses; Arlene Haukap, Sandie Campanella (too many exes to list), Dale Gapp (Marsha), Linda Perry (Steve) and Dean Gapp (Rhonda). Of special note, his beloved daughter-in-law, Marsha, fed him, nurtured him and joined him for lunch every Friday. Daughter-in-law Rhonda always encouraged him and laughed at his jokes. Son-in-law Steve, who shares CJ’s love of generosity, supported CJ’s lifelong fascination with gadgetry. CJ is also survived by his ex-wife, JoAnn (Teter), and grandchildren, Jessica, Nicholas, Delaney, Cole, Cory, Logan, Ryan, Jack, Constance and Piper, and three – almost four – great grandchildren, Kylie, Landon, Dusty and Hallie, who will join us soon. He leaves behind his adoring youngest sister, Cecilia Krysko, beloved sisters-in-law, Marilyn Gapp and Velma Gapp and favorite brother-in-law, Ron Tellinghusen, and many nieces, nephews and their spouses. He was particularly close to his nieces Janelle Rust (husband Randy) and Jane Metzger (husband Steve), who brought him joy and kept him on the straight and narrow. CJ also leaves behind his many loyal, loving friends and compatriots. Thank you all for the joy you brought and shenanigans you shared with him. We’re relatively certain your collective adventures are extensive, crazy and shall best remain secret. After all, what happens at LaMar’s stays at LaMars…
CJ was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Ottilia Gapp, brothers Albert Gapp, Francis Gapp, Ray Gapp, Art Gapp and sisters Mary Ann Knudson and Tillie Tellinghusen, and Bear Kitty, his faithful feline companion of over twenty-one years. Bear Kitty is no doubt already sitting on CJ’s shoulder, reminding him it’s time for his nightly cantaloupe treat.
Please join us for CJ’s memorial service and celebration of his life at 11:00 AM on October 19, 2024, at Allnutt Chapel, 650 W Drake Rd, Ft Collins. Please wear whatever attire reminds you of CJ and the life and adventures we shared with him. There will be a fiesta buffet immediately following the service. As we all know, CJ would want to buy everyone lunch and share the day together. We miss him already.
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