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1929 Donna 2016

Donna Jean Rapp (Van Mark)

June 20, 1929 — November 13, 2016

Donna Jean Rapp

June 20, 1929 – November 13, 2016

Donna was born on June 20, 1929 in Sidney, Nebraska to Emil and Eva Van Mark. She grew up in Nebraska, Wyoming and northern Colorado as a rancher’s daughter. She shared stories that as a young girl, she would race the train on her horse on the way home from school and once she rescued a baby antelope from a fence.

Donna was a loving wife for over 65 years and a loving mother to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. At age 87, she went home to Jesus in her sleep on November 13, 2016 at Montrose Memorial Hospital.

She met Don, on the first day of their first class, at Colorado A & M (CSU) of their Freshmen year in 1949. They were married October 20, 1951 at the beginning of their Junior year. She supported her husband through his college endeavors and followed him to where his career led him.

Twenty years later, when Don was on faculty at Adams State College in Alamosa CO, Donna was finally able to continue her Junior year of college. Donna raised five children, worked for the First Baptist Church, Don and her were faculty sponsors for Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, she was the President of the Faculty Dames and attended PEO functions all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA and being on the President’s Honor Roll. Donna became a first-time grandmother and graduated the same month in 1974 with a business degree.

When they moved to Littleton CO in 1974, they purchased a small ranchette where she raised her beloved Arabian horses and worked as an Accountant. She eventually became a 4-H leader and gave lessons to over 26 members on a weekly basis. Upon Don’s retirement, they moved to Olathe CO and purchased another acreage for her horses. Her love of horses was passed on to several of her children and grandchildren. She loved to travel with them as they competed with their horses across the nation.

Don’s retirement did not last long after he became active with Good News Jail & Prison Ministry. They traveled around the nation together making presentations. When she was home, she was the Treasurer at the First Presbyterian Church in Montrose for 10 years.

She was the matriarch of our family. Donna insisted she would not date Don when they first met because he was not a Christian. Don came to love Christ because he met Donna. She raised her five children and nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren to love the Lord. She will be greatly missed until we meet again in Heaven.

She is survived by her husband Don, her children; Gayl Wilhelm (Jeff), Don Rapp (Sandy), Jon Rapp (Sara), Van Rapp (Trish), Jean Seymour (Earl), her nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She is proceeded in death by her parents and sister. She will be laid to rest at Cedar Creek Cemetery. Friends and family are invited to a Memorial Service of a Celebration of Donna’s Life at 3:30 p.m. on the 19th of November at Celebration Church, 2320 S Townsend Ave; Montrose, CO.  In lieu of flowers please make monetary memorial contributions to Celebration Church.  Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory in Montrose is assisting the family.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donna Jean Rapp (Van Mark), please visit our flower store.

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