Henry ""Hank"" Klap

Henry ""Hank"" ""Pop Clutch"" Klap, 79, of Denver, lost his battle with cancer on Friday, October 21, 2016. Born on March 13, 1937 in Denver he was the son of the late Herman and Edith (Elders) Klap. Henry went to Denver Christian schools and graduated from DCHS in 1955. He married Betty Althouse in June of 1959 and together they lived in South East Denver for their 57 years of marriage. Henry joined the Army and served in the active reserves for 2 years at Fort Leonard Wood, MO and Fort Eustis, VA, and Wisconsin, and spent 4 more years of inactive duty at Fort Carson. He worked in transportation with the Army which is how he became a truck driver. Henry worked as a truck driver for the US Postal Service and retired after 31 years. By the end of his career he was inducted into the One Million Mile Club, as he impressively drove over one millions miles without an accident. After his retirement, he worked as a part time tractor-trailer driver for Alan Ritchey for 10 years. Henry volunteered hours to the church, as a cadet leader, Denver Christian Schools, and areas in his neighborhood. He worked part time as custodian at Denver Christian High School to help pay for his children's college. He also volunteered for the Denver Police Garage Maintenance Department in 2011, being their gofer, donating a total of 3, 300 hours to the department until his health deteriorated in the fall of 2015. Henry loved the mountains, traveling to Alaska, Hawaii and other various places, walking, hiking, and best of all playing with his grandchildren, and grand dogs. He also loved a good book on stories about WWII. He liked to watch television shows on National Geographic's, anything history, automobiles, and NASCAR races. Henry is survived by his wife, Betty Klap, his children: Terry Klap and his wife LaNae and Kelly VanElders and his wife Susan; his grandchildren: Jared D. Klap, Rachel B. Klap, Anna G. VanElders, and Ashley F. VanElders; his siblings: Jean (Jack) Allen, Herman Jr. (Peggy) Klap, Sarah (Ken) Riddering, Marian Stover, and his brother-in-law, John Nydam; his in-laws: Phillip (Barbara) Althouse and Jerry (Sara) Althouse; and many loving nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his sister, Katherine Nydam, his brother, Louie Klap, and brother-in-law, John Stover. Relatives and friends are invited to a Funeral Service for Henry at 11AM on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at First Christian Reformed Church, 1814 S Emerson St., Denver, CO 80210. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Henry's name to, The Denver Hospice Center, 501 Cherry St Suite 700 Denver CO 80246 or to The First Christian Reformed Church Benevolence Fund, 1814 S Emerson St. Denver CO 80210. Please leave an online condolence in the guestbook below.