John Albert Lapel of Hermiston passed away in Richland, Wash. on July 2, 2024 at the age of 74.
He was born on June 30, 1950 in Manilla, Iowa to Albert and Mary Miller Lapel.
As a young man, John worked with race horses and he lived in the Kingman and Phoenix, Ariz. areas for many years. He traveled extensively following his horse-racing passion throughout the country. At the tracks, he worked in many capacities such as a jockey and working the starting gate, but his heart was always in breaking colts. He moved to Hermiston in 2006, where he had resided for the past 18 years.
John was a jack-of-all-trades and gave 110 percent of himself in all that he did. In addition to his work at the race tracks, he also worked as a cook and in construction to name just a few of his jobs.
He enjoyed many activities such as bowling, golfing, camping, fishing and playing cards. He enjoyed watching horse racing and NASCAR on television and was an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys. He really enjoyed going to watch his grandchildren’s sporting events. He was well known for his quick wit, good sense of humor and ability to make other people laugh. He loved telling stories, occasionally stretching the truth a bit to make a story more believable, and was known to pull pranks on family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Cindy; daughters, Dallas (John) Monahan, Charlie (Allen) Iverson and Connie Lapel; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and one sister and one brother.
A private celebration of life will be held at a later time.
Family suggests memorial donations be made to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in John’s memory.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
