Virginia Jacqueline Clapp, age 86, Hays, Kansas passed away on Wednesday September 28, 2022, at Hays Medical Center. She was born October 28, 1935, in Salina, Kansas, to Anthony and Edith (Pihl) Zamrzla.
A 1953 graduate of Sacred Heart High School, she was known as "Zam" by her friends. She was particularly proud of this nickname, as it was shared with her dad, Sacred Heart basketball's Coach Zam.
Virginia met the love of her life, a tall, handsome US Air Force airman named Gene Clapp, on her front porch for a blind date, a date that had been set up by her best friend. Gene and Virginia were married in Salina on June 2, 1957, the day after she graduated from Marymount College. Gene preceded her in death November 27, 1988.
Making their home in several Kansas towns as teachers, the Clapps made their final move in 1971 to Hays, KS. Virginia began teaching English at Hays Junior High, which later transitioned to Felten Middle School, teaching in the same classroom for 23 years. She was known by all for her red grading pen, finding and correcting writing and grammatical errors of both pupils and colleagues. A favorite last day of school tradition blossomed during those years where Mrs. Clapp and a teaching friend would engage in a water gun fight in the hallways of FMS.
Mrs. Clapp retired from teaching in 1992 but kept busy with many activities. She served as an elder, deacon, and chairwoman for Presbyterian Women of Hays First Presbyterian Church. A favorite part of her service was the weekly Wednesday Bible study with friends from church. She also met weekly with a group of retired teacher friends, known as "The Wednesday Night Club," who went out to eat at all the different restaurants Hays had to offer. Virginia also served several years as chairperson for the Humane Society of the High Plains' annual fundraiser, The Souper Bowl.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband of 32 years, daughter Gayla Amend, stillborn daughter Holly, her father and mother, brothers Bruce Zamrzla and Larry Zamrzla, sister-in-law Shirley Zamrzla, nephew Brett Zamrzla, father and mother-in-law Fred and Myrtle Clapp.
She is survived by daughters Lanette Shaffer and husband Kevin of Fort Morgan, CO, Jenny Prine and husband Toby of Hays, KS, son-in-law Ty Amend of Wichita, KS, grandchildren Lexi (Nate) Rogers, Tyler Shaffer, Emily (Michael) Stefan, and Andrew Prine, great grandchildren Oaklyn and Easton Rogers, Eleanor Stefan, sister-in-law Jeanette Zamrzla, and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 30th, at Brock's-Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine Street, Hays.
Funeral Services will be held 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 1st, at the First Presbyterian Church, 2900 Hall Street, Hays.
A private graveside service will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park in Salina, KS.
Memorials are suggested to the HaysMed Hospice or Amazing Grace Homecare in care of the mortuary.
Condolences may be shared by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com