Julie Rappe, 76, Owatonna
Julie Ann Meta Rappe, joined her Lord and savior on May 31, 2024, at New Richland Care Center, New Richland.
She was born in Faribault, on Aug. 2, 1947, to Donald and Emma (Krause) Velzke. Her education began in a one room schoolhouse west of Warsaw and finished by graduating from Faribault High School in 1965.
She married Charles Rappe at Peace Lutheran Church in Faribault on Aug. 28, 1965, after dating for three years.
She is survived by her four children: Tad (Janie) of Faribault, Lori (Dean) Pettit of Cedar Lake, Ind.; Craig (Angie) of Owatonna, and Jilene of Watertown, Minn. She also is survived by several grandchildren: Hollie (Jeff) Berger of Faribault, Melissa (Shannon) Lique of Medford, Anthony (Jen) Pettit of Cedar Lake, Ind.; Nicole (Kevin) Pettit of Merrillville, Ind., Nicholas (Emily) Rappe of Owatonna, Malorie (Dillon) Rappe of Rochester, and Morgan (Brad) Knauf of Golden Valley. She has many great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She is also survived by her three sisters: Debra (Doug) Nelson of Faribault, Darlene Bess of Owatonna, Judy (Chuck) Fairclough of Faribault, two sisters-in-law Roberta Rappe of Wisconsin, Diane Rappe of Nebraska, along with many nieces and a few nephews sprinkled in the mix.
Shortly after marrying Chuck, they made their home in Owatonna. They joined Redeemer Lutheran Church where they both taught Sunday School and became Superintendents of the program while their children were involved. They both traveled to Texas to attend a training seminar to become better educated Superintendents. She took part in the Owatonna Youth Hockey Association as a team Mom for many years while the boys were younger then became involved in the Blue Line Club when they were in high school. She was a huge supporter and volunteer of the Quarterback Club while Tad played high school football. She always encouraged her children to do their best. She also loved to sew and sewed all the wedding dresses for one of her daughters-in-law. She enjoyed making alterations for people too. She enjoyed puttering outside in the summer months. She always had a bountiful garden, grew beautiful flower gardens, and kept the lawn immaculate. She took pride in keeping the house welcoming. She also loved to bake and according to her family made the best cream puffs. She liked to spoil her family with little tokens of love like this when she could.
She worked at Truth Hardware for many years, starting in production and working her way into purchasing. Then at OMC Mustang, K-Bar and finished off her career at the Owatonna Clinic. We are immensely proud of Mom’s dedication to family first while balancing her career.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 51 years, Charles, in 2016, an infant granddaughter, Madison Jean Rappe, in 1998, her parents, her in-laws Irvin
and Edna Rappe, five brothers-in-law: Richard Rappe, Roger Rappe, Thomas Rappe, Paul Budde, and Wayne Bess, and many other loved ones.
“What we have once enjoyed, we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.”
Helen Keller
She is now reunited with her forever Sweetheart in eternity.
Friends may greet the family from 1-3 p.m., Sunday, June 9, 2024, at Brick-Meger Funeral Home, 1603 Austin Road, Owatonna, and one hour prior to the funeral at church. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 10, 2024, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1054 Truman Ave., Owatonna with Pastor Harold Storm presiding.