Honorable John W. Rapp, Jr

Honorable John W. "Jack" Rapp, Jr, of Mt. Carroll was born December 12, 1940 in Oak Park, Illinois, the son of John W. and Eileen (Barry) Rapp, Sr.. He departed this life surrounded by family and friends on Friday, February 26, 2010 at Tidewell Hospice House, Sarasota, Florida . On July 3, 1965 he married Mary Kathleen Janco. From that union five children were born, Mark, Julie, Matthew, Martin and Maura.Jack graduated from Loyola University with a bachelor's degree in Philosophy in 1962 and the Loyola School of Law in 1965. He and Mary moved to Mt. Carroll, IL where he practiced law, she taught school and they raised their family. Jack was a partner in the law firm of Eaton, Leemon and Rapp until his election as a circuit judge in 1970. Elected the youngest judge, at the age of 29, he served 31 years in many capacities: as Chief Judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit for 16 years, as Chairman of the Conference of Chief Judges of Illinois for 10 years, as a member of the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board for four years and as a Justice of the Appellate Court for three. He retired from the judiciary in November 2001.Jack served in several volunteer positions in his community and his Church. He was chairman of the Jo-Carroll (Savanna Army Depot) Local Redevelopment Authority; a trustee and volunteer fireman of the Mt. Carroll Fire Protection District; a member of the Board of the Ferguson Cancer Center in Freeport; past president, vice-president and treasurer of the Timber Lake Playhouse; chairman of the Review Board of the Attorney’s Registration and Disciplinary Commission; chairman of the Review Board of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford; and as Lieutenant of the North Central Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He was a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Jack also was a lector, extraordinary minister of communion and a member of the finance council of his parish, St. John and St. Catherine in Mt. Carroll.He thoroughly enjoyed life with his wife and best friend, Mary, his children and his grandchildren. He was especially thankful for the friends and associates with whom he shared his time on earth. Jack is survived by his wife, Mary; his three sons, Mark (Tammy) of Greeley, Colorado, Matthew (Mindy) of German Town Hills, Illinois and Martin (Amy) of Mt. Carroll; his grandchildren, Sydney, John W. Rapp III, Leslie, Emma, Colton and Hayley; and his two sisters, Denise Bryant of Lombard, Illinois and Suellen (Byron) Brayton of Plainfield, Illinois. His parents and two daughters, Julie and Maura, predeceased him. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 6, 2010 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Savanna, Illinois with Bishop Thomas Doran as Celebrant. A private family burial will be in St. Wendelin Catholic Cemetery, Shannon, Illinois. Visitation (Wake) will be held 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Friday, March 5, 2010 at SS. John & Catherine Catholic Church, Mt. Carroll, Illinois, with a Rosary Service held prior at 2:30 p.m.. Memorials may be given in Jack's memory for his dear charities.