Donna R. Rapp

Donna R. (nee Gerety) Rapp, 84, of Edwardsville, IL, formerly of rural Pocahontas, passed away Monday, March 28, 2022, at Stillwater Senior Living, in Edwardsville, IL, with her family by her side.

She was born on February 12, 1938, in Davenport, IA, to Andrew and Marcella (nee Latzer) Gerety. On November 14, 1959, she married Robert “Bob” Rapp in Davenport, IA.

Donna was member of Immaculate Conception Church, Pierron, IL, after moving to rural Pocahontas in 1994.  She served as a school board President at Our Lady of Assumption, Fairview Heights, IL and also as a school board member of Althoff Catholic High School, Belleville, IL.  She also participated in the Highland Women’s Club.  Donna worked as a registered nurse at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, until her retirement in 1995.

Donna played on a bowling league for many years and loved participating in water aerobics. She enjoyed playing cards with friends and neighbors and participated in her neighborhood women’s breakfast club.  She traveled to several places, taking cruises to Italy, Norway, Denmark, England, Ireland, France & Hawaii to name a few; often traveling with a group of her nursing friends and their spouses.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew and Marcella Gerety; daughter, Judith Rohrer; grandson, Nathan Joines; brother and sister-in-law, Thomas (JoAnn) Gerety; sister-in-law, Loretta (Willis) Thien; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Joseph (JoAnn) Rapp, and Howard Bjornson.

Donna is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Robert “Bob” Rapp, Pocahontas, IL; children, Nancy (Timothy) O’Neill, Chicago Heights, IL, Jennifer (Mark) Joines, Smithville, TN, Joseph (Theresa) Rapp, Gastonia, NC, Karen (Ray) Martinez, St. Louis, MO, Linda (Steve) Distler, Glen View, IL; son-in-law, Russell Rohrer, Quincy, IL; grandchildren, Stephanie, Melissa, Meghan, Joseph, Robert, Matthew, Elizabeth, Christine, Stephen, Grace, Sylvia, Jack, Lauren; great-grandchildren, Aoife, Adrijana, Aleksander, Nikolina, Radmila, Adalynn, Aleah, Anastazia, Stella, Madelyn, Theodore, Beau, Bennett; sisters-in-law, Sr. Dolores Ann Rapp ASC, and Virginia Bjornson; many nieces and nephews; and her dear nursing friends, Rosemary Thomsen, Charlotte Buckman and Marty Clynes.

Memorials may be made to Knight Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Dept of Neurology, 4488 Forest Park Ave, Ste 200, St. Louis, MO 63108 or Family Hospice, 5110 West Main St., Belleville, IL 62226.

Visitation: Saturday, April 2, 2022, from 8:30 am to 10:15 am, Immaculate Conception Church, Pierron, IL.

Mass of Christian Burial:  Saturday, April 2, 2022, 10:30 am, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Pierron, IL.

Clergy: Reverend Paul Bonk

Interment: Calvary Cemetery, Pierron, IL.

Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL.