Kenneth Rapelje

Mr. Rapelje, age 83, passed away early Wednesday morning, April 13, 2016 at his residence. The son of the late Earl and Cecelia (LaFountain) Rapelje was born November 1, 1932 in Bay City, Michigan. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Prescott. Mr. Rapelje was a retired boiler operator from Consumers Power Company (Weadock Plant) where he served his fellow workers as a union steward. He loved singing and as a young man had the opportunity to sing on the local radio station. For many years while wintering in Florida he organized music programs and traveled to area senior citizen parks to perform. He enjoyed doing leather work, hunting, fishing and boating. He was always looking for ways to get the families together and his favorite activity was spending time with his family at summer outings at the lake, Christmas holidays, graduations and birthday gatherings. He proudly served his country as a medical corpsman in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict and was awarded two purple hearts. He is a past member of the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans. Left behind to cherish his memory are his wife of sixty four years, Beverly M. (Walders) whom he married August 9, 1951; four children , Kenneth B. (Pamela) Rapelje; Alan Rapelje (Peggy Luebs); Christine (Peter) Whyte; Daniel (Nancy) Rapelje; eight grandchildren, Megan (Dirk) Esterline; Matthew Rapelje; Jacob (Ashley) Whyte; Adam Whyte; Samuel (Courtney) Whyte; Cara Rapelje; Alyssa Rapelje and Erica Rapelje; nine great grandchildren; two sisters, Gladys Blackwell and Virginia Vink ; many nieces, nephews and other extended family. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters; Christine "Tootie" O'Neil, and Helen Ayres; two brothers, Donald and Lloyd Rapelje; sisters-in-law; Betty and Marlene Rapelje, brothers-in-law; Jack O'Neil, Barnaby Blackwell, Bill Ayers, and Hazen "Buster" Vink. Memorial Services will be held 11am Saturday, May 21, 2016 at Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. with Pastor Daniel L. Jansen officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home following the service. Inurnment with military honors will be conducted at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan at a later date. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider donations to the Alzheimer's Foundation or the Disabled American Veterans. www.gephartfuneralhome.com