Roll Call Tribute

Jack Waide Rapp
October 4, 1937 - February 20, 2021

Jack Waide Rapp, 83, died February 20, 2021, in Houston, Texas, after being an El Campo resident for over 57 years. A native of Travis County, he was born October 4, 1937, in Austin, to Clarence Earl and Elma Ione Rapp. He was a man of faith and long-time member of the First Baptist Church, El Campo.

Jack received his bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics from The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas in 1959, where he received the Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award, was a member of the honorary fraternity of Alpha Zeta, and was president of the Agricultural Economics Club. Jack did post-graduate study at Purdue University while serving as a counselor in the men’s residence hall. During and after college he worked as an agricultural statistician with the USDA-Agricultural Economics Service. Jack served six years with a Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) component of the U.S. VIII Army Corps Reserve.

He worked with the Wharton County Boy Builders Association for 13 years, serving as vice president and director before it became part of the Wharton County Youth Fair, and then served as a founding director and first vice president of the Fair. The Wharton County Youth Fair was dedicated to Jack and Wanda in 1999 in recognition of their work in its formative years.

Jack had been a member of the El Campo Jaycees, a 25-year member of the El Campo Rotary Club, serving as a director and office holder, and a 9-year member and chairman of the City of El Campo Board of Adjustments. He was a member and past office holder of the Wharton County A&M Club. He served as a guest lecturer at the Wharton County Junior College and participated in Career Day at several high schools. He was awarded the Honorary Chapter Farmer Degree by El Campo High School’s Future Farmers of America Chapter for service to vocational agriculture.

Jack was retired from working in agricultural finance and farm credit management after 36 years, having served as president and chief executive officer of El Campo Production Credit Association, and later as vice president-agricultural loans with Commercial State Bank.

In 1963 Jack married Wanda Pearl Horn of San Angelo and they were richly blessed with an incredible life together. After his retirement they spent summer months RVing, exploring and fly fishing the rocky mountain states, accompanied for 12 of those years by their golden retriever, Uno Grande.

He is survived by his beloved wife and best friend, Wanda, and his son, Bradley '88 and his wife Laura '88 and grandsons, Jordan and Travis '22. He is also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Vesta Virginia Parsons.
The family will receive friends 5 pm to 7 pm, Tuesday, February 23, 2021, at Triska Funeral Home, 612 Merchant, El Campo. Graveside services will be held 2:00 on Wednesday, February 24, 2021, at Garden of Memories Cemetery, Business 59 South, El Campo. Reverend Rick DuBroc will officiate.

In lieu of usual remembrances, the family requests donations be directed to the El Campo Emergency Medical Services – EMS, 1011 West Loop, El Campo, Texas 77437, who enabled him to enjoy an extended life.

© 2021 Triska Funeral Home