Joseph Davies Jaap

Captain Joseph Davies Jaap passed away peacefully with family by his side on February 1, 2021. Joe was born October 2, 1937 in Coronado, California to Frances Davies Jaap and Rear Admiral Joseph Abraham Jaap. Growing up as the son of a naval officer, Joe lived in many places including Virginia Beach where he attended Norfolk Academy and Washington D.C. where he attended St. John’s College.

Joe graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1960 and three days later married Rowena Stanley at the Naval Academy chapel in a full, formal military wedding. Married for twenty-seven years, together they raised three children, Mary Frances, Rowena, and Jody.

Joe began his Naval career on USS INTREPID (CVA 11), then transferred to submarines. He went on to join the Supply Corps in 1963. Joe was one of a small group of classmates that successfully transitioned the Supply Officer billet on nuclear submarines from line officers to Supply Corps Officers. He served at PMOLANT in Charleston and NSD Yokosuka in Japan. He earned an MBA at the University of Michigan and served in Vietnam from 1971-72. Joe served as Chief of a Defense Contract Management Agency office in Oklahoma City. In 1975-76, he attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington D.C. He then served as Supply Officer of LY SPEAR (AS 36) and COMSUBRON TWO before serving out the remainder of his distinguished 23-year career in the Navy as Inventory Control Officer of Naval Supply Center Norfolk.

In 1983, he and Rowena co-founded Rowena’s and Captain Jaap’s Jam and Jelly Factory, famous for its Wonderful Almond Pound Cake. The Factory achieved sales across 50 states and internationally. He went on to become president of the Swiss Hospitality Institute in Washington, Connecticut, a junior college for hotel/restaurant management. In 1996 he was named president of the Cooper Career Institute in Virginia Beach.

In 1995, Joe married Christy Hagan Jaap. They enjoyed travel, particularly trips to Key West in their RV, and their grandchildren. Together they moved to Colonial Heritage in Williamsburg. After Christy’s death in 2009, Joe moved to Patriot’s Colony. In recent years, with Martha Frakes by his side, he enjoyed all aspects of life there.

Beloved father and Grumpa, Joe will be remembered for his great faith, quiet generosity, and dry sense of humor. He was also a great listener. Joe enjoyed golf and sailing on the Severn and Lafayette rivers. He served his community in various ways including delivering meals-on-wheels, as a Hospice House volunteer and at the Patriot’s Colony Health Center. He was president of the parish council of Sacred Heart Church in Norfolk and an active member at St Bede in Williamsburg.

Joe is survived by his three children and five grandchildren. His children are Mary Frances Bellman and her husband Tim Bellman, Rowena Post and her husband Brett Post, Joseph Jaap and his wife Lori Jaap. His grandchildren are Grace and Josephine Bellman, Ethan Post, and Payton and Zachary Jaap. Joe is also survived by his sister Anne Jacobson and her family.

A funeral mass will take place at 2:00pm on Thursday, February 11, 2021 at Saint Bede Catholic Church, Williamsburg. The mass can accommodate up to 300 attendees with social distancing and masks required and will be live-streamed. Joe will be inurned at the US Naval Academy Columbarium, Annapolis.

Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Williamsburg House of Mercy, 10 Harrison Avenue, Williamsburg, VA 23185. Funeral arrangements will be handled by Nelsen Funeral Home & Crematory Williamsburg, www.nelsenwilliamsburg.com.