Georgiann Rapp

Georgiann Rapp, 85, of Lexington, Nebraska passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at Avamere in Lexington surrounded by her loving family.

She was born December 18, 1936, in Omaha, Nebraska to George and Florence (Cave) Thomas. Georgiann attended public schools in Omaha and graduated from Omaha Central High School with the class of 1954. Georgiann earned her bachelor’s degree in Education from Colorado College in Colorado Springs in 1959. On June 26, 1960, she was united in marriage to Robert Rapp in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Two children were blessed to this union: Robert and Becky.

Georgiann and Rob moved to a ranch southeast of Colorado Springs where she worked as a rural one room schoolteacher, wearing multiple hats, even driving the school bus and having to dodge rattlesnakes on warm days with her VW Beetle. They worked together raising Scottish Highlander cattle and enjoyed showing their herd at the National Stock Show in Denver.

The couple moved their cattle to Badger, Minnesota in the mid 60’s where Georgiann continued to work as an elementary schoolteacher. Georgiann and Rob moved to Guide Rock, Nebraska in 1972 for the opportunity to run a large farm and ranch. Georgiann continued her love of teaching and taught at 2R and Bostwick rural schools. While living there, Rob’s two nephews, Val & Gene Horne, came to live with them. All four kids graduated from Guide Rock High School.

In the fall of 1983, the family moved to Randolph, Nebraska and the couple worked together raising dairy cattle and running a restaurant and truck stop near Ravenna, Nebraska. Georgiann earned her Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1986 and taught in Paige NE. In 1989, they moved to rural Lexington to the family farm. Georgiann worked as a special education resource teacher for ESU 10 and serviced the rural schools in the Arnold, Cozad, and Lexington area.

Georgiann taught for over 40 years and after retirement, continued her love for teaching by substituting and working for Lexington & Cozad Public Schools and the Lexington Early Learning Academy which she loved greatly. She was devoted to her students.

Robert and Georgiann shared a love of gardening and sharing the produce with neighbors and friends. Georgiann had a great love for music and played the violin in her younger years. She enjoyed reading, knitting, canning, ice-skating, swimming and loved working with children. She had a deep love for her family and loved her dogs and special cat Miss Kitty.

Georgiann was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution for over 30 years and a past member of Eastern Star.

She will be remembered for always being willing to help everyone anytime she could, she was so giving and had a heart of gold and had a special place in her heart for the YMCA in Lexington.

Survivors include her children, Robert (Pam Miettinen) Rapp II, of Elkhorn and Becky (Chris) Kautz of Gering; three grandchildren, Dr. Megan (Casey) Collins of Gering, Erin (Ike) Opara of Kansas City, Missouri and Alexander (Allie) Rapp of Chandler, Arizona; two nephews, Val (Kim) Horne and Gene (Modesta) Horne both of Red Cloud, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Jeanie De Leon of Houston, Texas; as well as nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Besides her parents, Georgiann was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; daughter-in-law, Patricia; two brothers, Norman and his wife Edith Thomas; Cornelius Thomas, sister-in-law, Crystal (Frank) Horne and brother-in-law, Lowell Rapp.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington with Lonna Grabenstein, Chaplain, ruralMED Home Health and Hospice, officiating. The service will be live-streamed via the Reynolds-Love Funeral Home Facebook page.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Saturday.

Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery south of Cozad, Nebraska.

Memorials are kindly suggested to the Lexington Y.M.C.A.

Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.