- Date Of Birth: July 25, 1929
- Date Of Death: January 20, 2022
- State: Colorado
James M. Rapkoch
July 25, 1929
January 20, 2022
Loving father, beloved husband. Jim was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico, raised in Las Cruces and always kept his roots in the “Land of Enchantment”. Jim graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in biology in 1954 and was commissioned into the U.S. Army a Second Lieutenant. He had many assignments around the world during his 21-year career. These included Vietnam (where he earned a Vietnamese Gallantry Cross, Silver Star, 3 Bronze Stars and an Air Medal), Heidelberg Germany, Italy, Kentucky, Virginia, Kansas, California and Texas as an ROTC instructor. He retired a Lt Colonel from Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs and began a second career in property management and real estate. He, along with his family loved the outdoors, camping, hunting and fishing for many years. He was a great provider to his family, an adventurer, traveler, a teacher of fine things, a great gourmet chef, and a wonderful story teller when it came to sharing family history.
He was preceded in death by his beloved son, Michael Rockland Rapkoch and son-in-law, Scott Elligott. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Wanda, his son, Jim (Marie), and daughters, Bridget (Greg) and Maggie. He was extremely proud to be a grandfather of seven and great-grandfather to four.
Eulogy
On behalf of my Dad, James M. Rapkoch, I want to welcome all of you today. I know Dad would be extremely honored and humbled that you came to remember him.
Dad was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico, raised in Las Cruces and always kept his roots in the “Land of Enchantment”. He graduated from New Mexico State University with a degree in biology in 1954 and was commissioned into the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant. He had many assignments around the world during his 21-year career. These included Vietnam (where he earned a Vietnamese Gallantry Cross, Silver Star, 3 Bronze Stars and an Air Medal), Germany, Italy, Kentucky, Virginia, Kansas, California and Texas. He retired a Lt. Colonel from Ft. Carson in 1974 as a Lieutenant Colonel and began a second career in property management and real estate.
Stewardship Prayer: “From the first breath of our lives, You called us while in our mother’s womb to be Your own and gave us life! As stewards of this one and only life, we embrace Your precious gift of time to spend it under Your abiding presence.
Dad spent his precious gift of time well. 92 years!
What I remember the most though, was that as we began each and every road trip we were all in the car together and Dad would lead us in praying the Creed, and then Our Father and Hail Mary.
He loved people and made friends everywhere. He and mom have lifelong friends around the world! Zuliani family in Italy, Pelzer family in Germany, and certainly his military colleagues across the nation. He talked for years about his Vietnamese counterpart, Dai Wi Hep Vietnam. As an advisor in Vietnam in 1961, part of what he did was to teach English. I didn’t know until recently that he had my sister Bridget write letters as a pen pal to a young Vietnamese girl named Jane, so that she could learn to read and write. What a wonderful thing!
In later years he and Mom traveled to see more of the world. One of their trips was to Turkey.
Dad loved the outdoors. He enjoyed the beauty of nature and just spending time in the mountains and on the trails. But what he loved most was sharing it with his family. He had a wealth of knowledge and taught all of us about nature camping, fishing and hunting. He was quite proud to be the first to teach his grandsons to fish and bought them their first fishing poles.
Dad was always very proud to have been one of the original founders of St.
92 years! I would say that he lived his precious gift of time to the fullest.
Dad, we are so proud of you and thank you for all the experiences you provided us. We love you and we miss you.
And now, that your course on Earth is run,
May it be said, “Well done!
Be thou at peace.”
