Omar James Lapp, age 95 of Gap, passed away from cancer on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at his home surrounded by his caring family and Hospice. He was the loving husband of Sara Ellen Miller Lapp for 61 years. Born on November 18, 1929 in Gap, he was the son of the late Moses and Rachel Blank Lapp. He was a member of the Old Order Amish church. He raised his family at Sandy Hill Mennonite Church. He was influenced by his work with Marriage Encounter, Pendle Hill and Shalem Institute. He spent the last years at Ridgeview Mennonite Church. These helped build his spirituality and sense of community. He attended Buena Vista School through 8th grade, Bienenberg Bibelschule, and then graduated from Eastern Mennonite College with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. He later obtained his GED so he could complete a work application that asked for "High School". Omar grew up on a dairy farm, worked on a cattle boat for Heifer Project, served in PAX service in Germany and Greece, taught at Linville Hill Mennonite School and Conestoga Christian School before taking a job at Provident Bookstores which enriched his passion for reading. A life long learner, he started and participated in many book clubs over the years, and kept detailed records of those meetings, up to a week before passing. He enjoyed family genealogy and published two books: "My Memoirs" and "My Lapp Ancestors".  He was a man of journals and lists: a list for groceries, a list titled "around the block" which names all the neighbors on his regular 3 mile walk, a list of phone numbers, a list of passwords, a list for Irene the next time she visits, a to do list that "sort through folders" is not checked off, but get new Scrabble Word book is checked off, and a list of his siblings and their age at death. A person who cared deeply about relationships, he kept a prayer list which you may have been on.  Omar loved adventure, nature and hiking, and annually planned week long vacations with the family at PA State Park cabins, and later many trips west. In his retirement he hiked Pikes Peak, Machu Pichu, the Grand Grand Canyon, the Appalachian Trail, the Camino de Santiago. He loved planning birthday days with his grandchildren, building the fire for family hot dog roasts, but most of all he loved his home with Sara in Buena Vista with Nathan and Michael's family close by.  Surviving besides his wife Sara are 4 children; Nathan James, husband of Sherilyn Stoltzfus Lapp of Gap, Michael Omar, husband of Karen Sauder Lapp of White Horse, Irene Elizabeth, wife of Edward Martin Ryan of Durham, NC, Herman David, husband of Farrah Fine of Salida, CO, 13 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by 6 siblings, Christian Lapp, Seth Lapp, Elizabeth Miller, Sylvia Lapp, Lena Beiler Glick and John Henry Lapp.

A funeral service will take place at Ridgeview Mennonite Church, 3723 Ridge Road, Gordonville, on Monday, May 26th at 11 a.m. with a viewing time from 10 a.m. until the time of service. Pastor Katelyn Robbins will be officiating. There will also be a viewing time at the church on Sunday evening from 4 to 6 p.m. Interment will be in the Spring Garden Cemetery.