Longtime Polish Club member, Ira Curtis Rapp of Aberdeen passed away peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015 at Fir Lane Health and Rehabilitation Center in Shelton with his family by his side. Ira was born in Aberdeen on March 26, 1943 to George Theodore and Mary Isabelle (Haire) Rapp.
On June 24, 1967 Ira married Mary Ann Strumski in Aberdeen. She survives him at the family home.
Ira quit high school and went into the Washington Army National Guard. He quit for a year then returned to the National Guard and served for 20 years. While in the National Guard Ira went back to Grays Harbor College and got his missing credits and graduated with Hoquiam High School class of 1971.
Ira ran the Aberdeen Eagles bingo for several years. He also liked to bowl on Thursday nights; he even got his 300 game. He also got to bowl in Nationals in Reno which he always wanted to do. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
When Ira was 18 he set pins at the Aberdeen Recreation above the old Smoke Shop on Heron St. He also worked at Grays Harbor Chair Factory, Weyerhaeuser Saw Mill and retired from the Hoquiam School District as a bus driver in 2008. He was known as “Smiley” on the bus.
Ira is survived by Mary Ann his wife of 48 years. Three daughters JoAnn and Michelle Rapp of Aberdeen and Christina Hathaway of Anchorage, Alaska, nine grandchildren, Ashley Roberts, Trevor and Alexander Hathaway, Madison Wahlbrink, Jessica, Courtney, Kelsey, Dakota and Tyler Rapp; one sister Jean Lyons of Federal Way, two brothers Richard (Patricia) Rapp of Aberdeen and Merrill (Zola) Smith of Longview and also several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents George and Mary, three sisters Norma Black, May Arell and Peggy Murphy, three brothers Ronald and Theodore Rapp and James Smith and his loving dog Chico.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donation be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to a fund set up at New Horizon’s Credit Union to help the family with funeral expenses.
A memorial potluck will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5 at the Aberdeen Eagles, 200 W. Market St.
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