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Scott Japp, 60

Scott Japp age 60 of Arlington died June 19, 2016. Memorial services will be held Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Bennington. Visitation will be held Wednesday, June 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair.

Scott Japp was born on December 27, 1955 in Omaha, Nebraska to Richard L. and Mayone (Russell) Japp. He was raised in Washington and later attended and graduated from Arlington High School. After high school Scott attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and received his bachelor's Degree in Animal Science. He was a member of AGR Fraternity during his time in Lincoln. He worked for the family business for several years and later worked overseas developing golf courses for 10 years. He was an NRD board member who was passionate about politics. He enjoyed playing cards and attending county fair livestock shows.

Scott is survived by his mother Mayone Japp, sister Pamula Japp of Bennington, brothers Lonny (Cindy) Japp of Bennington, Reid (Victoria) Japp of Bennington, Matt Japp (Mama-Brenda Wolf) of Kennard, nieces and nephews: Payge, Dalton, Samantha, Griffin, Ben, and Nicole; aunt Darlene Harper of Kennard, uncle Jack Lorencen of Lincoln, uncle Merel (Debi) Japp of Florida, uncle William (Mari) of Kennard.

He was preceded in death by his father, Richard L. Japp.

Memorials may be directed to the Washington County 4-H Program or the Kennard Volunteer Fire Department.

Services provided by Campbell Aman Funeral Home, Blair.

#2 Omaha World Herald 21 June 2016

Japp, Scott Age 60 - Jun 19, 2016 Arlington, NE. Survived by his mother Mayone Japp; sister Pamula Japp of Bennington; brothers, Lonny (Cindy) Japp of Bennington, Reid (Victoria) Japp of Bennington, Matt Japp (Mama- Brenda Wolf) of Kennard; nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles. MEMORIAL SERVICES will be held Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 10am at St. John's Lutheran Church in Bennington. VISITATION will be held Wednesday, June 22 from 6-8pm at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair. CAMPBELL-AMAN FUNERAL HOME 444 S. 17th Blair, NE 402-426-2191 www.campbellaman.com

#3 Omaha World Herald POSTED: MONDAY, JUNE 20, 2016

By Roseann Moring / World-Herald staff writer

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People in Washington County were reeling Monday after learning of the death of Scott Japp, a longtime resident who had served as the county’s representative on the Papio-Missouri Natural Resources District for nearly eight years.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office announced late Sunday that Japp, 60, had died in a farm machinery-unloading accident.

Japp was known as an aggressive advocate for his rural constituents, which often led him to spar with fellow board members and NRD staff.

Carl Lorenzen, chairman of the Washington County Board, said taxpayers in the four rural counties Japp represented appreciated his thoroughness and his questions.

“People wanted him to do the job he was doing,” Lorenzen said. “They don’t want a rubber stamp. They want him questioning.”

Japp was seeking a third term on the board. In the May primary, he received 45 percent of the vote in a three-person race. He had been set to face fellow Arlington resident Bill Rhea in the general election.

Officials at the NRD and the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office were reviewing state election law Monday. They weren’t immediately certain whether a temporary replacement would be appointed to his seat or whether his name would appear on the November ballot. Japp, a Washington County native, was first elected to the NRD board in 2008 on a platform of keeping dams out of Washington County. He was re-elected in 2012 to represent Subdistrict 1, which includes parts of Washington, Burt, Thurston and Dakota Counties.

“He was very popular,” said Lorenzen, who said he’d known Japp for his whole life. “There’s no doubt about it.”

Outside Japp’s subdistrict, his adversarial style often frustrated fellow board members and NRD staff, who thought he made unfair accusations about the resources district.

Twice, his fellow board members voted to censure him. And the district sued him in 2014, asking a judge to prevent him from interfering in a dam project. After construction was underway, the district dismissed its complaint.

Earlier this year, Japp told The World-Herald that he was running for a third term because he wanted to continue to advocate for taxpayers.

“I’m probably the only representative on that board that’s representing the people, not like the other board members that are representing special interest groups and receive donations from engineering firms and law firms and companies that represent the NRD,” he said then.

Some other board members acknowledged that they disagreed with him but said they were sorry to hear of his death.

The NRD issued a statement Monday: “We at the NRD were saddened to learn of the passing of Director Scott Japp. ... Scott had been a strong voice for the people of Subdistrict 1. His background knowledge of soil construction and agriculture was a great asset to the NRD. He was a very active board member and always tried to look out for the NRD’s mission of soil conservation. We send our condolences to the family and the community on his passing.”

Richard Scott Japp was born Dec. 27, 1955, and graduated from Arlington High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Japp was involved in several business ventures, Lorenzen said. One was working for the family business, Japp Brothers Grading.

In his personal life, Japp was compassionate and humble, Lorenzen said.

“Scott had done very well in his business life,” he said. “But you’d never know it by the car he drove or how he dressed.” Survivors include his mother, Mayone Japp; sister, Pamula Japp of Bennington; and brothers, Lonny Japp of Bennington, Reid Japp of Bennington and Matt Japp of Kennard. He was preceded in death by his father, Richard L. Japp.

A memorial service is set for 10 a.m. Thursday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bennington. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair.

Contact the writer: 402-444-1084, roseann.moring@owh.com #4 Published in The Pilot Tribune 21 June 2016; article by Leeanna Ellis

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A day after appearing in the Bennington Daze parade riding an antique bulldozer, Papio-Missouri River Natural Resource District (PMRNRD) board director Scott Japp was killed while unloading that piece of machinery Sunday in rural Kennard.

Washington County sheriff's deputies and Arlington and Kennard fire and rescue departments responded at about 5:30 p.m. Sunday to 19163 County Road 28 to the report of a person pinned between a bulldozer and a pickup truck.

Japp, 60, of rural Arlington was pronounced dead at the scene.

Washington County Sheriff Mike Robinson said Japp was attempting to unload the miniature antique bulldozer from a trailer when the machine lurched forward pinning him between it and the rear of the pickup truck.

Sgt. Brian Beckman said the bulldozer was chained to the trailer, but Japp removed the chains prior to starting it with a hand crank at the front of the machine.

It is believed the accident happened sometime mid-morning. Japp was seen entering the property, which is owned by his brother, Matt Japp, and Brenda Wolf, at around 9 a.m.

It is unclear if Scott was killed instantly. An autopsy was not ordered.

“We do not believe he suffered,” Robinson said.

Matt said his brother had used the bulldozer in the Bennington Daze parade Saturday. He also rode it in the Gateway to the West Days parade in Blair.

Matt said Scott was familiar with the equipment. The brothers had worked together with Matt's company, Japp Brothers Grading.

“He's been around heavy equipment his whole life,” Matt said.

Matt was home at the time of the accident; however, the garage where Scott was unloading the equipment is obscured from view of his house by another barn, Matt said.

“We didn't see the accident until we found him later,” he said.

The Washington County Attorney's Office and the sheriff's office investigated the accident.

There was no indication of foul play or that alcohol was a factor, Robinson said.

“There was nothing but a tragic accident,” Washington County Attorney Scott Vander Schaaf said.

Japp, a Republican, was seeking his third term on the PMRNRD board in the Nov. 8 general election. He won the primary election May 10 against Bill Rhea Jr. of Arlington and Chad Scebold of Bennington.

Washington County Clerk Merry Truhlsen said it is unclear if Japp's name will remain on the ballot. She is awaiting notification from the Nebraska Secretary of State.

Japp, who represented Washington County in Subdistrict 1, was a controversial figure on the PMRNRD board. He had served on the board since 2008.

In his first two terms in office, Japp accused the PMRNRD of a number of misdeeds. He was censured by the board twice for statements he posted on his personal Facebook page as well as the pages of Enterprise Publishing Company and the Omaha World-Herald.

Japp was also sanctioned by a Douglas County judge in a dispute over an Omaha-area dam site.

The PMRNRD released a statement Monday about Japp's death: “Scott had been a strong voice for the people of Subdistrict 1. His background knowledge of soil construction and agriculture was a great asset to the NRD. He was a very active board member and always tried to look out for the NRD's mission of soil conservation. We send our condolences to the family and the community on his passing.”

PMRNRD General Manager John Winkler said there has been no discussion about how to fill Japp's seat.

“When it is appropriate, we will look into the steps needed to replace (the position) or wait for the election,” he said.

Japp ran for the state Senate District 16 seat against incumbent Lydia Brasch in 2014 and lost.

Japp is survived by his mother, Mayone Japp of Washington; sister, Pam Japp of Bennington; brothers, Lonny (Cindy) Japp and Reid (Vicki) Japp of Bennington and Matt Japp of Kennard.

He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Japp.

#5 Omaha World Herald 23 June 2016

Change of Service Location

Memorial Services 10 am Thursday, June 23 at Bennington High School.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home 444 S. 17th Blair, NE 402-426-2191

#6 Funeral Leaflet

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In Loving Memory of Scott Japp

Born December 27, 1955 Omaha, Nebraska ~ Entered Into Rest June 19, 2016 Kennard, Nebraska

Memorial Service 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 23, 2016 Bennington High School, Bennington, Nebraska. Officiating: Pastor Andreas Stein. Musical Selection: “My Faith Looks Up To Thee”, “Abide With Me”, “Faith of our Fathers”, “How Great Thou Art”, “Amazing Grace”. Pianist: Jan Braden. Soloist: Samantha Japp

Honorary Pallbearers: Griffin Japp, Ben Japp, Tom Marcy, Charlie Trauger, Myron Gerdes, Kent Clausen

~~~Obituary and funeral leaflet courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska~~~

FindaGrave # 165392922