Rest In Peace Joe "Papa Smurf" Rapp.... - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

missbelmar · #1 01-14-2013, 08:22 PM

It is with a very heavy heart that we have to tell you that Joe Rapp, aka "Papa Smurf", died at home on Sunday with his wife at his side at the young age of 82. We have a tremendous amount of love and respect for Papa Smurf and we can not describe how much he meant to us. He was such a wonderful person. He was a father, husband, brother, grandfather and friend to many people. To us he was more than just our friend; he was our family. We have many wonderful memories of him through out the years. He was a very kind man and also very wise. He taught us a lot about hard work, love for friends and family and appreciation and respect for others. We will miss you Papa Smurf more than words can say and we will never forget you. In our hearts always, we love you forever.

tombanjo · #2 01-14-2013, 10:28 PM

Ah that sucks, sorry to hear that. RIP Joe. Great guy. Great fisherman. Always fun to be around. He will be missed. Sorry for your loss Alan, I know how close you two were.

SaltLife1980 · #3 01-14-2013, 11:17 PM

Very sorry to hear that.. Met him a few times and he was an amazing person

Bluefish · #4 01-14-2013, 11:31 PM

I will miss Joe a lot, we met years ago and there was instant acceptance and friendship on both sides and that counted, helped make the Princess the boat to be on, lots of good memories. Even the last year or so just going over to the truck and saying hello meant a lot to me.

Gerry Zagorski · #5 01-15-2013, 08:15 AM

It's always tough loosing a close fishing friend.... Hard to be out on the water without thinking about them.

Rest in Peace Joe.

chefsamg19 · #6 01-15-2013, 05:01 PM

Knew joe as well I remember when he was the cook on the other miss Belmar years ago.. Sorry for your loss Alan and the crew of the mbp

007Hookem · #7 01-16-2013, 10:43 AM

RBC67 · #8 01-16-2013, 07:24 PM

skate king · #9 01-17-2013, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missbelmar

It is with a very heavy heart that we have to tell you that Joe Rapp, aka "Papa Smurf", died at home on Sunday with his wife at his side at the young age of 82. We have a tremendous amount of love and respect for Papa Smurf and we can not describe how much he meant to us. He was such a wonderful person. He was a father, husband, brother, grandfather and friend to many people. To us he was more than just our friend; he was our family. We have many wonderful memories of him through out the years. He was a very kind man and also very wise. He taught us a lot about hard work, love for friends and family and appreciation and respect for others. We will miss you Papa Smurf more than words can say and we will never forget you. In our hearts always, we love you forever.

Turk,
Sorry this took a few days. I'm really sorry to hear about Joe. I know how close you two were. I had to think about how long I knew Joe and realized it is almost 35 years. Damn, I'm getting old. We used to laugh when you and Joe would arrive at the dock together in the last couple of years and someone would say here come the "odd couple". And that wasn't just people from the MPB. I remember so many times having a good laugh with him and the times we used to prank different people. Remember when Buck's trailer got "feathered"? He loved that one. Or when you took the cheese out of his sandwhich and put carboard in it? It took him two or three bites before he noticed it. Thought it was just another bad sandwich from the sub shop.
He lived his life to the fullest and now he rests in peace. He will be missed by so many people.