Robert Bruce Rapp, 74, of rural Lexington, Nebraska, passed away Sunday, February 24, 2013, at Lexington Regional Health Center.
He was born February 10, 1939, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Robert Beckwith and Carol (Powers) Rapp. Robert attended school and graduated from Palmer High School in Colorado Springs with the class of 1957. He was united in marriage to Georgiann Thomas on June 26, 1960, in Colorado Springs. Two children were blessed to this marriage; Robert and Becky.
As a young man, Robert moved to Calgary, Canada where he broke horses. He rode his favorite horse he broke, Alberta Min, 1,300 miles from Calgary to Rush, Colorado. Robert was a man of the range, he loved his horses and his cattle and the adventures both brought him.
The couple raised Scottish Highlander cattle on a ranch southeast of Colorado Springs after they were married. They then moved the herd to northern Minnesota for a time. Robert and Georgiann sold the herd and moved to Nebraska, near Guide Rock, from 1971 to 1983, where Robert managed the VLT Ranch. In 1983, the family moved to Randolph, Nebraska, where they raised dairy cattle and he also managed the Country Boy Restaurant in Ravenna. In 1989, they moved to rural Lexington. The couple grazed cattle and raised hay. Robert and Georgiann shared a love of gardening and sharing the produce with neighbors and friends. He also had a great love for music.
Robert loved sports, especially boxing, he helped coach Junior Glove, Silver Glove and Golden Glove boxing throughout the years. He coached Little League baseball and umpired girls fast pitch softball. He was the self-proclaimed pinto bean piler of the world and a great first baseman as a young man. He loved to travel; his adventures took him to the outback in Australia, Venezuela, Scotland and Hawaii. He was a past member of Guide Rock Masonic Lodge #128, and the Tehama Shrine.
He was a man of great integrity, philosopher, loved to read and enjoyed life to the fullest. He had a deep love for his family and was always optimistic about every opportunity life threw his way. He will be greatly missed.
Survivors include his wife of almost 54 years; Georgiann Rapp of rural Lexington, Nebraska; son, Robert Rapp, II of Omaha, Nebraska; daughter, Becky (Chris) Kautz of Gering, Nebraska; three grandchildren; Megan Kautz of Kansas City, Missouri and her fiance’ Casey Collins of Beatrice, Nebraska; Erin Kautz of Lincoln, Nebraska; and, Alexander Rapp of Omaha, Nebraska; two nephews he finished raising; Val (Kim) Horne and Gene (Modesta) Horne both of Red Cloud, Nebraska; two sisters, Crystal Horne of San Antonio, Texas; Jeanie De Leon of Houston, Texas; a dear family friend, Ren Rasmussen of Bertrand, Nebraska; several nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Lowell B. “Bucky” Rapp; daughter-in-law, Patricia Rapp; and, brother-in-law, Frank Horne.
Funeral Services will be Saturday, March 2, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Chapel in Lexington with Reverend Mary Fuller officiating.
Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery south of Cozad, Nebraska.
Visitation will be held Friday, March 1, 2013, from 5-7 p.m. at the Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington.
Memorials are suggested to the Lexington Baseball Association.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family through: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.