Patricia Ann was born January 29, 1937 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Warren and Maysel (Bauer) Powell. She graduated from Alexander Ramey High School in 1955. On February 23, 1957 she married James Rapp at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They lived in Ham Lake, Andover, Dalbo and Cambridge where they farmed and also owned and operated Our Own Hardware stores in Cambridge and Soderville. Pat was a prior active member at Joy Lutheran Church. She was a Girl Scout leader, foster parent, world traveler, and avid reader and writer. She was known for her puppet shows that she performed at many schools and churches. Pat’s life was always full of adventure and she will be dearly missed.
She is survived by three children, Lynn (Arlen) Diercks, Mark (Sara) Rapp, and Mike (Jill) Rapp; son-in-law, Wayne Dankers; grandchildren, Jacob (Kori), Morgan, Brian (Brianna), Katie (Bill) Jordan (Kailey), Alyssa, Lea (Brock) and Ross (Sara); great-grandchildren, Trinity, Noah, Faith, Landen, Bella, Madison, Gage, Jackson, Riley, Laleh, Izzel, Isla, Alma and Olin; and by many other relatives and friends. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; daughter, Merry Dankers; and brother, Richard Powell.
I met Pat decades ago when I moved to the Cambridge area. She was always so helpful when I went to shop in the Hardware store she and her husband, Jim, had. They handled some gift items also, and Pat would help me figure out a useful gift. Like me, when they moved down south for quite a while, Pat was also a massage therapist. Knowing so much about so many things, Pat seemed like a “jack of all trades” to me. :)
In her later years, after getting reacquainted with Pat at Joy Lutheran Church of Cambridge, Pat and I would visit there. She would tell me family stories sometimes. Also she would call me with questions and stories about her beloved cat. Crocheting was one of Pat’s hobbies, and she was always looking for places to donate her creations.
It’s good to know that I will see Pat again someday in Heaven. Right now, she is busy catching up with everyone already there.
Sending condolences from the Knouse family. Scott and I (Mickie). Our parents, Don and Bev, and brother Lane has passed away. I remember Lane telling stories of working at the hardware stores in Soderville. He liked working there with Jim and Pat. May your precious memories help lighten your loss in the days ahead.