Pollyanna "Polly" (Petersen) Rapp

Pollyanna "Polly" (Petersen) Rapp died on July 22, 2024, at BridgePointe Health Campus in Vincennes, IN, at age 101. Polly was born November 18, 1922, on a farm near Spencer, Iowa. She was the second child of Peter Roy Petersen and Mary Josephine (Anderson) Petersen. She married Gus Junior Rapp in Palestine IL on May 10, 1946, who preceded her in death on May 12, 2003.

She is survived by her twin daughters and a son, Judith (Harold) Beckes, Carol Castellon, and Arthur (Chona) Rapp; and by grandchildren David (Christa) Beckes, Dan (Jill) Beckes, Ben (Amy) Beckes, August (Allyson) Edgington, Mark (Silvia) Edgington, Christina (Amit) Chopra, Christopher (Jamie) Collins, and Michael (Lauren) Castellon; and great-grandchildren Reid Beckes, Brayden Beckes, Aubrey Beckes, Nathaniel Beckes, Daylen Beckes, Elijah Beckes, Colton Frye, Maegan Frye, Jeannette Ortiz, Milton Ortiz, Adonay Ortiz, Nicholas Collins, Caley Collins, Drew Collins, and Kingston Collins.

Polly graduated from Ramsey High School in Ramsey, IL, in 1940 and Eastern Illinois University in 1944 with a B.S. in Music Education. While attending EIU, she performed in a singing group called the "Pinups in Pinafores" who entertained the troops. She spent her summers working in Chicago, including a job at a factory that made supplies for WWII armed forces, so she was a real "Rosie the Riveter!" After graduation, she accepted a teaching position at Palestine High School, teaching band and chorus. A student introduced her to her future husband, Gus Rapp. While teaching full-time, she earned her master's degree in music from Indiana State University in 1963.

Polly taught music in Palestine schools for 25 years. She loved singing, but her real talent was playing the piano, and she could play any song on request. She played at school, church, and eventually for residents at Timber Creek before they ate supper. She was a long-time faithful member of the First Christian Church in Palestine, sharing her musical talents with the church by singing and playing the piano and organ. She also sang in a barbershop-style quartet for several years, entertaining people whenever they got the opportunity.

She loved to play Bridge, and was a member of several clubs, and taught Bridge lessons for years to many residents in Crawford County. She was a member, past Regent, and past treasurer of James Halstead Sr. Chapter NSDAR. She was active in Palestine Preservation Projects Society from its formation, also serving as President and working to restore the Fife Opera House. She loved to collect things, and the joke in the family was "what does Polly NOT collect?"

In 1961, she and Gus bought a farm just south of Palestine, to house the horses that their daughters loved to ride. They built a 5-acre lake on the farm and started the "Twenty and One" fishing club where members could fish. She enjoyed the farm into her 90's by helping her daughter's family gather maple sap and make maple syrup. When she was no longer able to help, she still enjoyed riding the "gator" all over the farm.

After she and Gus retired, they spent many years traveling, particularly during the winter, so they could be in warmer climates for his bronchitis. They traveled all the United States, and also to Europe, Canada and Alaska, Hawaii, and Mexico. They particularly enjoyed visiting relatives and friends, and distance was no obstacle. They spent one year following the Cubs to every stadium where they played across the country.

In 2022, she survived long Covid and wrote a book while recovering, leaving her descendants a record and stories about long-gone ancestors. She was amazingly intelligent all her life, and her memory was sharp. A week before she died, she made a video for her family to tell them all goodbye and told them all how proud she was of them. She loved spending time with her family, and the family gatherings were cherished. She was overjoyed to see her namesake in 2022, great-niece Polly Petersen, age 4. Polly will be missed by her family and friends and will be remembered as loving, kind, talented, appreciative, and, as her brother Roy said, "beautiful."

A time of visitation will be held from 1:00- 2:30 p.m. on Monday, July 29th at Goodwine Funeral Home in Palestine. Funeral services will immediately follow and be held at 2:30 p.m. on Monday. Burial will be in the Palestine Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Palestine Preservation Projects Society, First Christian Church of Palestine, or to James Halstead Sr. Chapter NSDAR, with envelopes available at the funeral home.