Alvin was born at home near Paton, Greene County, Iowa on Wednesday, September 7, 1921. He was the only son of George Henry Rapp and Nellie Mae (Jenkins) Rapp.
He was the grandson of John and Anna Mae (Boston) Rapp of Flanagan, Illinois; Civil War Veteran, Albanus Logan Jenkins and Phoebe Elizabeth (Hamlin) Jenkins of Long Point, Illinois.
He was the brother of May Elizabeth Rapp Estlund (Albert), Mildred June Rapp Clark (Tripp), Myrtle Marie Rapp Pratt (Ken) and Leola Vaun Rapp Peterson (Donald).
Alvin attended Paton Consolidated Schools where he enjoyed his musical talent in vocal groups and playing baritone in band. Alvin graduated in 1938 in a class of 20 students.
Alvin farmed his entire life; first with his father, then shouldering the task alone for his mother and family when his father died in 1950. They had cattle, hogs, chickens, corn and soybeans on the 320 acre farm. There were three homesteads on those acres. Alvin would eventually remove the decrepit house and barn on the west place, purchase 80 acres of the land and put it into productivity.
One wonderful evening he met Betty Ann Robinson Williams at the Larimar Ballroom in Fort Dodge. She was the daughter of Frank Robinson and Beulah Crouse Robinson. Frank had died at age 30, and Beulah was later married to John Williams whose name Betty took. Alvin and Betty fell in love.
Alvin and Betty were married on Sunday, August 29, 1948. Others referred to their marriage as "Camelot" as they were extremely happy together. They made their home on the farm which had been purchased years earlier by Alvin's maternal grandparents. Alvin adopted Betty's daughter Judy from her first marriage and became the father of two more daughters and a son.
Alvin built a new two-bedroom home for his family 1/2 mile west of his childhood home, but the family soon outgrew it. His mother moved into the smaller home, and Alvin's family moved to his childhood home. He lived there with his wife and family to the end of his life.
Alvin's sense of honor, fairness, faith, humor and fun made him a well-liked man in the community he loved, and he was adored by his children. Alvin worked hard but had much fun with his family. Though he loved ice cream, he lived a healthy life. His fun was spending time with his children. The family did not go far from home; however, they enjoyed summer vacations at Lake Okoboji and Arnold's Park, an occasional visit to relatives in Illinois, and one big trip to Inglewood, California when the family visited his sister, Mildred Clark and her family, went to Disneyland and attended the 1960 Rose Parade in Pasadena. The children humorously recall Alvin standing at the California border stubbornly eating the oranges they had purchased since they could not be brought across the state line, and he did not want to waste the money he spent on them!
He was a member of the Salem United Methodist Church in Paton, Wifani (couples club) and card clubs. He served on church committees, sang in church choir and Greene Singers in Jefferson, and enjoyed playing his Hammond Chord Organ. He always drove a Farmall tractor and was a Northrup King dealer part time.
A special event in his life was hosting American Field Service "daughter" Sabine of Osnabruck, Germany during the 1966-1967 school year. It was a treasured year that none of the family will ever forget. Upon leaving, Sabine gave the Rapp family a gold bell inscribed "Home that my feet may leave, but never my heart." Alvin's generosity in sharing his home endeared him to everyone.
In the fall of 1968, Alvin was diagnosed with acute myelomonocytic leukemia. He spent a few short weeks at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City where a blood transfusion was administered. But the family's lives changed forever in the early morning of Tuesday, December 17, 1968, when the hospital called to deliver the devastating news that Alvin had passed away. His family, lifelong classmates and friends, his children's friends, and the Paton community greatly mourned his passing.
Upon visiting Paton 45 years later, one of Alvin's children was told by a former classmate that he still recalls the day he learned of Alvin's illness. Numerous area farmers gathered at the Rapp farm and lined up their combines in the Rapp fields so that the crop was quickly harvested. The classmate recalled asking his father if he could skip school and help that day. Alvin was loved in his community, where he lived his entire life.
Alvin was preceded in death by his grandparents; his father George in 1950; his sister Leola in 1951; and a nephew Bobby Clark.
He is cherished in the lives of his wife, three daughters, one son, son-in-law, mother, three sisters, a sister-in-law, five brothers-in-law, father-in-law and mother-in-law, five nieces, eight nephews, numerous relatives from the Pontiac, Illinois area where his parents were raised, and many friends.
_________________________________
Alvin graduated from Paton High School Class of 1938. Class members included: Charles Aldrich, Joe Anholt, Paul Fatka, Fern Hane, Barton Jack Haupert, Rex Hawn, Lois Hocke, Eugene Jones, Edna Kelley, Elsworth Norman, Signe Pearson, Alvin Rapp, Blythe Sells, Leslie Dale Swaim, Hazel Tallman, Lucile Tallman, Kenneth Thomsen, Romona Trafton, Forrest Wessling, Arthur Wolf. Alvin was the first of his class to pass away.
1940 U.S. Federal Census
Place: Dawson, Greene, Iowa
Roll: T627_1162; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 37-3.
* Note: Greene County's number was 37 in Iowa. The number 37 appeared on license plates and other places.
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1940: Dawson, Greene, Iowa
Occupation: Farm Laborer; Unpaid family worker
Highest Grade Completed: HS, 4th year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 72; Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Household Members:
Geo H Rapp 54
Nellie M Rapp 49
Alvin Rapp 18
Leola Rapp 14
He was the grandson of John and Anna Mae (Boston) Rapp of Flanagan, Illinois; Civil War Veteran, Albanus Logan Jenkins and Phoebe Elizabeth (Hamlin) Jenkins of Long Point, Illinois.
He was the brother of May Elizabeth Rapp Estlund (Albert), Mildred June Rapp Clark (Tripp), Myrtle Marie Rapp Pratt (Ken) and Leola Vaun Rapp Peterson (Donald).
Alvin attended Paton Consolidated Schools where he enjoyed his musical talent in vocal groups and playing baritone in band. Alvin graduated in 1938 in a class of 20 students.
Alvin farmed his entire life; first with his father, then shouldering the task alone for his mother and family when his father died in 1950. They had cattle, hogs, chickens, corn and soybeans on the 320 acre farm. There were three homesteads on those acres. Alvin would eventually remove the decrepit house and barn on the west place, purchase 80 acres of the land and put it into productivity.
One wonderful evening he met Betty Ann Robinson Williams at the Larimar Ballroom in Fort Dodge. She was the daughter of Frank Robinson and Beulah Crouse Robinson. Frank had died at age 30, and Beulah was later married to John Williams whose name Betty took. Alvin and Betty fell in love.
Alvin and Betty were married on Sunday, August 29, 1948. Others referred to their marriage as "Camelot" as they were extremely happy together. They made their home on the farm which had been purchased years earlier by Alvin's maternal grandparents. Alvin adopted Betty's daughter Judy from her first marriage and became the father of two more daughters and a son.
Alvin built a new two-bedroom home for his family 1/2 mile west of his childhood home, but the family soon outgrew it. His mother moved into the smaller home, and Alvin's family moved to his childhood home. He lived there with his wife and family to the end of his life.
Alvin's sense of honor, fairness, faith, humor and fun made him a well-liked man in the community he loved, and he was adored by his children. Alvin worked hard but had much fun with his family. Though he loved ice cream, he lived a healthy life. His fun was spending time with his children. The family did not go far from home; however, they enjoyed summer vacations at Lake Okoboji and Arnold's Park, an occasional visit to relatives in Illinois, and one big trip to Inglewood, California when the family visited his sister, Mildred Clark and her family, went to Disneyland and attended the 1960 Rose Parade in Pasadena. The children humorously recall Alvin standing at the California border stubbornly eating the oranges they had purchased since they could not be brought across the state line, and he did not want to waste the money he spent on them!
He was a member of the Salem United Methodist Church in Paton, Wifani (couples club) and card clubs. He served on church committees, sang in church choir and Greene Singers in Jefferson, and enjoyed playing his Hammond Chord Organ. He always drove a Farmall tractor and was a Northrup King dealer part time.
A special event in his life was hosting American Field Service "daughter" Sabine of Osnabruck, Germany during the 1966-1967 school year. It was a treasured year that none of the family will ever forget. Upon leaving, Sabine gave the Rapp family a gold bell inscribed "Home that my feet may leave, but never my heart." Alvin's generosity in sharing his home endeared him to everyone.
In the fall of 1968, Alvin was diagnosed with acute myelomonocytic leukemia. He spent a few short weeks at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City where a blood transfusion was administered. But the family's lives changed forever in the early morning of Tuesday, December 17, 1968, when the hospital called to deliver the devastating news that Alvin had passed away. His family, lifelong classmates and friends, his children's friends, and the Paton community greatly mourned his passing.
Upon visiting Paton 45 years later, one of Alvin's children was told by a former classmate that he still recalls the day he learned of Alvin's illness. Numerous area farmers gathered at the Rapp farm and lined up their combines in the Rapp fields so that the crop was quickly harvested. The classmate recalled asking his father if he could skip school and help that day. Alvin was loved in his community, where he lived his entire life.
Alvin was preceded in death by his grandparents; his father George in 1950; his sister Leola in 1951; and a nephew Bobby Clark.
He is cherished in the lives of his wife, three daughters, one son, son-in-law, mother, three sisters, a sister-in-law, five brothers-in-law, father-in-law and mother-in-law, five nieces, eight nephews, numerous relatives from the Pontiac, Illinois area where his parents were raised, and many friends.
_________________________________
Alvin graduated from Paton High School Class of 1938. Class members included: Charles Aldrich, Joe Anholt, Paul Fatka, Fern Hane, Barton Jack Haupert, Rex Hawn, Lois Hocke, Eugene Jones, Edna Kelley, Elsworth Norman, Signe Pearson, Alvin Rapp, Blythe Sells, Leslie Dale Swaim, Hazel Tallman, Lucile Tallman, Kenneth Thomsen, Romona Trafton, Forrest Wessling, Arthur Wolf. Alvin was the first of his class to pass away.
1940 U.S. Federal Census
Place: Dawson, Greene, Iowa
Roll: T627_1162; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 37-3.
* Note: Greene County's number was 37 in Iowa. The number 37 appeared on license plates and other places.
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1940: Dawson, Greene, Iowa
Occupation: Farm Laborer; Unpaid family worker
Highest Grade Completed: HS, 4th year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 72; Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Household Members:
Geo H Rapp 54
Nellie M Rapp 49
Alvin Rapp 18
Leola Rapp 14
Alvin was born at home near Paton, Greene County, Iowa on Wednesday, September 7, 1921. He was the only son of George Henry Rapp and Nellie Mae (Jenkins) Rapp.
He was the grandson of John and Anna Mae (Boston) Rapp of Flanagan, Illinois; Civil War Veteran, Albanus Logan Jenkins and Phoebe Elizabeth (Hamlin) Jenkins of Long Point, Illinois.
He was the brother of May Elizabeth Rapp Estlund (Albert), Mildred June Rapp Clark (Tripp), Myrtle Marie Rapp Pratt (Ken) and Leola Vaun Rapp Peterson (Donald).
Alvin attended Paton Consolidated Schools where he enjoyed his musical talent in vocal groups and playing baritone in band. Alvin graduated in 1938 in a class of 20 students.
Alvin farmed his entire life; first with his father, then shouldering the task alone for his mother and family when his father died in 1950. They had cattle, hogs, chickens, corn and soybeans on the 320 acre farm. There were three homesteads on those acres. Alvin would eventually remove the decrepit house and barn on the west place, purchase 80 acres of the land and put it into productivity.
One wonderful evening he met Betty Ann Robinson Williams at the Larimar Ballroom in Fort Dodge. She was the daughter of Frank Robinson and Beulah Crouse Robinson. Frank had died at age 30, and Beulah was later married to John Williams whose name Betty took. Alvin and Betty fell in love.
Alvin and Betty were married on Sunday, August 29, 1948. Others referred to their marriage as "Camelot" as they were extremely happy together. They made their home on the farm which had been purchased years earlier by Alvin's maternal grandparents. Alvin adopted Betty's daughter Judy from her first marriage and became the father of two more daughters and a son.
Alvin built a new two-bedroom home for his family 1/2 mile west of his childhood home, but the family soon outgrew it. His mother moved into the smaller home, and Alvin's family moved to his childhood home. He lived there with his wife and family to the end of his life.
Alvin's sense of honor, fairness, faith, humor and fun made him a well-liked man in the community he loved, and he was adored by his children. Alvin worked hard but had much fun with his family. Though he loved ice cream, he lived a healthy life. His fun was spending time with his children. The family did not go far from home; however, they enjoyed summer vacations at Lake Okoboji and Arnold's Park, an occasional visit to relatives in Illinois, and one big trip to Inglewood, California when the family visited his sister, Mildred Clark and her family, went to Disneyland and attended the 1960 Rose Parade in Pasadena. The children humorously recall Alvin standing at the California border stubbornly eating the oranges they had purchased since they could not be brought across the state line, and he did not want to waste the money he spent on them!
He was a member of the Salem United Methodist Church in Paton, Wifani (couples club) and card clubs. He served on church committees, sang in church choir and Greene Singers in Jefferson, and enjoyed playing his Hammond Chord Organ. He always drove a Farmall tractor and was a Northrup King dealer part time.
A special event in his life was hosting American Field Service "daughter" Sabine of Osnabruck, Germany during the 1966-1967 school year. It was a treasured year that none of the family will ever forget. Upon leaving, Sabine gave the Rapp family a gold bell inscribed "Home that my feet may leave, but never my heart." Alvin's generosity in sharing his home endeared him to everyone.
In the fall of 1968, Alvin was diagnosed with acute myelomonocytic leukemia. He spent a few short weeks at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City where a blood transfusion was administered. But the family's lives changed forever in the early morning of Tuesday, December 17, 1968, when the hospital called to deliver the devastating news that Alvin had passed away. His family, lifelong classmates and friends, his children's friends, and the Paton community greatly mourned his passing.
Upon visiting Paton 45 years later, one of Alvin's children was told by a former classmate that he still recalls the day he learned of Alvin's illness. Numerous area farmers gathered at the Rapp farm and lined up their combines in the Rapp fields so that the crop was quickly harvested. The classmate recalled asking his father if he could skip school and help that day. Alvin was loved in his community, where he lived his entire life.
Alvin was preceded in death by his grandparents; his father George in 1950; his sister Leola in 1951; and a nephew Bobby Clark.
He is cherished in the lives of his wife, three daughters, one son, son-in-law, mother, three sisters, a sister-in-law, five brothers-in-law, father-in-law and mother-in-law, five nieces, eight nephews, numerous relatives from the Pontiac, Illinois area where his parents were raised, and many friends.
_________________________________
Alvin graduated from Paton High School Class of 1938. Class members included: Charles Aldrich, Joe Anholt, Paul Fatka, Fern Hane, Barton Jack Haupert, Rex Hawn, Lois Hocke, Eugene Jones, Edna Kelley, Elsworth Norman, Signe Pearson, Alvin Rapp, Blythe Sells, Leslie Dale Swaim, Hazel Tallman, Lucile Tallman, Kenneth Thomsen, Romona Trafton, Forrest Wessling, Arthur Wolf. Alvin was the first of his class to pass away.
1940 U.S. Federal Census
Place: Dawson, Greene, Iowa
Roll: T627_1162; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 37-3.
* Note: Greene County's number was 37 in Iowa. The number 37 appeared on license plates and other places.
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1940: Dawson, Greene, Iowa
Occupation: Farm Laborer; Unpaid family worker
Highest Grade Completed: HS, 4th year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 72; Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Household Members:
Geo H Rapp 54
Nellie M Rapp 49
Alvin Rapp 18
Leola Rapp 14
He was the grandson of John and Anna Mae (Boston) Rapp of Flanagan, Illinois; Civil War Veteran, Albanus Logan Jenkins and Phoebe Elizabeth (Hamlin) Jenkins of Long Point, Illinois.
He was the brother of May Elizabeth Rapp Estlund (Albert), Mildred June Rapp Clark (Tripp), Myrtle Marie Rapp Pratt (Ken) and Leola Vaun Rapp Peterson (Donald).
Alvin attended Paton Consolidated Schools where he enjoyed his musical talent in vocal groups and playing baritone in band. Alvin graduated in 1938 in a class of 20 students.
Alvin farmed his entire life; first with his father, then shouldering the task alone for his mother and family when his father died in 1950. They had cattle, hogs, chickens, corn and soybeans on the 320 acre farm. There were three homesteads on those acres. Alvin would eventually remove the decrepit house and barn on the west place, purchase 80 acres of the land and put it into productivity.
One wonderful evening he met Betty Ann Robinson Williams at the Larimar Ballroom in Fort Dodge. She was the daughter of Frank Robinson and Beulah Crouse Robinson. Frank had died at age 30, and Beulah was later married to John Williams whose name Betty took. Alvin and Betty fell in love.
Alvin and Betty were married on Sunday, August 29, 1948. Others referred to their marriage as "Camelot" as they were extremely happy together. They made their home on the farm which had been purchased years earlier by Alvin's maternal grandparents. Alvin adopted Betty's daughter Judy from her first marriage and became the father of two more daughters and a son.
Alvin built a new two-bedroom home for his family 1/2 mile west of his childhood home, but the family soon outgrew it. His mother moved into the smaller home, and Alvin's family moved to his childhood home. He lived there with his wife and family to the end of his life.
Alvin's sense of honor, fairness, faith, humor and fun made him a well-liked man in the community he loved, and he was adored by his children. Alvin worked hard but had much fun with his family. Though he loved ice cream, he lived a healthy life. His fun was spending time with his children. The family did not go far from home; however, they enjoyed summer vacations at Lake Okoboji and Arnold's Park, an occasional visit to relatives in Illinois, and one big trip to Inglewood, California when the family visited his sister, Mildred Clark and her family, went to Disneyland and attended the 1960 Rose Parade in Pasadena. The children humorously recall Alvin standing at the California border stubbornly eating the oranges they had purchased since they could not be brought across the state line, and he did not want to waste the money he spent on them!
He was a member of the Salem United Methodist Church in Paton, Wifani (couples club) and card clubs. He served on church committees, sang in church choir and Greene Singers in Jefferson, and enjoyed playing his Hammond Chord Organ. He always drove a Farmall tractor and was a Northrup King dealer part time.
A special event in his life was hosting American Field Service "daughter" Sabine of Osnabruck, Germany during the 1966-1967 school year. It was a treasured year that none of the family will ever forget. Upon leaving, Sabine gave the Rapp family a gold bell inscribed "Home that my feet may leave, but never my heart." Alvin's generosity in sharing his home endeared him to everyone.
In the fall of 1968, Alvin was diagnosed with acute myelomonocytic leukemia. He spent a few short weeks at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City where a blood transfusion was administered. But the family's lives changed forever in the early morning of Tuesday, December 17, 1968, when the hospital called to deliver the devastating news that Alvin had passed away. His family, lifelong classmates and friends, his children's friends, and the Paton community greatly mourned his passing.
Upon visiting Paton 45 years later, one of Alvin's children was told by a former classmate that he still recalls the day he learned of Alvin's illness. Numerous area farmers gathered at the Rapp farm and lined up their combines in the Rapp fields so that the crop was quickly harvested. The classmate recalled asking his father if he could skip school and help that day. Alvin was loved in his community, where he lived his entire life.
Alvin was preceded in death by his grandparents; his father George in 1950; his sister Leola in 1951; and a nephew Bobby Clark.
He is cherished in the lives of his wife, three daughters, one son, son-in-law, mother, three sisters, a sister-in-law, five brothers-in-law, father-in-law and mother-in-law, five nieces, eight nephews, numerous relatives from the Pontiac, Illinois area where his parents were raised, and many friends.
_________________________________
Alvin graduated from Paton High School Class of 1938. Class members included: Charles Aldrich, Joe Anholt, Paul Fatka, Fern Hane, Barton Jack Haupert, Rex Hawn, Lois Hocke, Eugene Jones, Edna Kelley, Elsworth Norman, Signe Pearson, Alvin Rapp, Blythe Sells, Leslie Dale Swaim, Hazel Tallman, Lucile Tallman, Kenneth Thomsen, Romona Trafton, Forrest Wessling, Arthur Wolf. Alvin was the first of his class to pass away.
1940 U.S. Federal Census
Place: Dawson, Greene, Iowa
Roll: T627_1162; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 37-3.
* Note: Greene County's number was 37 in Iowa. The number 37 appeared on license plates and other places.
Relation to Head of House: Son
Home in 1940: Dawson, Greene, Iowa
Occupation: Farm Laborer; Unpaid family worker
Highest Grade Completed: HS, 4th year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census: 72; Weeks Worked in 1939: 52
Household Members:
Geo H Rapp 54
Nellie M Rapp 49
Alvin Rapp 18
Leola Rapp 14
