SOUTH BERNE — Joel L. "Jody" Rapp "loved everything," his mother, Rachael Rapp, said.
Mr. Rapp died on Saturday as a result of injuries he received during an accidEnt on Friday evening. He was 34.

Mr. Rapp, a carpenter, graduated from Berne-Knox-WestErlo High School in 1991.

Rachael Rapp describes her son as an outdoorsman, one who loved to hunt, fish, camp, and loved animals and people. "He loved dogs, he loved the outdoors, and he loved it at his job," she said.

"He touched many lives," she said, "and was soon going to be promoted to be a foreman."

Mr. Rapp, who was employed by the Local #370 Carpenter’s Union in Albany, had been at his job for less than a year, and was "loved by employees and could motivate others," his mother said.

Jaimee Thompson, Rapp’s fiancée, knew Rapp since their youth; the couple was together seven-and-a-half years. The twO, she said, enjOyed taking trips.

Ms. Thompson and Mr. Rapp had planned a trip to Pulaski to salmon fish at the end of this month, and were planning to build a house. Upon its completion, the couple was to be married next year.

"He loved his property," Ms. Thompson said. "He took a lot of pride in it."
In his youth, Mr. Rapp loved to ride horses, rode bulls in shows, and was involved in 4-H, and the South Berne Youth Fellowship, Mrs. Rapp said.

Despite his rugged side, his mother said, "He liked to get dressed up a bit."

"He was very neat and orderly"He had a big heart. He never let anyone be upset for long," Thompson said.

"He had a good heart," Mrs. Rapp reiterated. She added that the family donated his heart "so that goodness could live on." She concluded, "Somebody out there has a good heart."

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Mr. Rapp is survived by his fiancée, Jaimee Thompson, of Reidsville; his parents, Robert and Rachael Rapp, of South Berne; two brothers, Randy Rapp and his wife, Beth, and Jamie Rapp and his wife, Carol Ann, both of South Berne; and his grandmother, Ethel Rapp of South Berne.

He is also survived by nieces and nephews, Renée, Jesse, Randy Jr., and Billy Rapp, all of South Berne; his godparents, Debbie Stalker, Sue Ragone, and Randy Rapp; and his dear friend, Tony Bischert. Mr. Rapp is also survived by several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
His brother, Jeffrey Rapp, died in 1988.

A funeral service will be held today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. at the South Berne Christian Congregational Church in South Berne. The Fredendall Funeral Home made the arrangements. The burial will be in the South Berne Cemetary.

Memorial contributions may be made to the South Berne Christian Congregational Church, Berne, NY 12023.

— Tyler Schuling

In Memoriam:

Love ya.

— Bob, Rachael, and Jaimee