Obituary for Marianne Rapps
Marianne Rapps passed away peacefully at home in Naples Florida after a brave battle against pancreatic cancer. She was surrounded by her family.
Marianne was born in Fredensborg Denmark and came over via Ellis Island with her Dad Paul Engler and Mother Lilly Engler. She met her husband William D. Rapps “Bill” at a New Year’s Eve Party and they were married November 14, 1964. She is survived by her husband, her son Jeffrey Rapps and wife Kate and their children, her son Pete Rapps and his wife Jill, her brother Ken and wife Ginny and their children and grandchildren.
Marianne fearlessly and courageously faced pancreatic cancer with the utmost positive attitude. She shall remain an incredible inspiration to each of us.
Close friends and family will attest to her “no time for dwelling on the negatives, let’s do the radiation and chemo to beat this thing and get better” attitude.
In between the culmination of above treatments and an upcoming, massively invasive pancreatic cancer operation known as the “Whipple Procedure”, she traveled to Denmark, followed by a cruise to ports around the Baltic Sea. She was joined by husband Bill, her two sons and their wives.
She felt great and enjoyed this trip like no other.
Marianne was a model patient with more stamina and positivity than most of us could ever muster.
She was declared ‘cancer free’ post-surgery yet remained in a high-risk category.
For the next approximately 18 months, she healed and eventually resumed her active lifestyle, including, but not limited to five-mile walks with her friends three times per week.
Shortly after this past Thanksgiving 2020 (which she insisted upon hosting and preparing dishes for), she learned that the cancer was back.
Progression of the disease was extremely quick.
She passed peacefully at home with her immediate family present on December 30, 2020.
And now for the good stuff we all like to read about 😊
The week after she turned 21, Marianne married her one and only husband, Bill, on November 14, 1964. They were married for the next 57 years.
Previous residences include the towns of Plainfield, Dunellen, and Bridgewater, New Jersey.
She and her family later lived on Lake Wallenpaupack in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania before moving to Naples, Florida in 1992.
Marianne had two sons: Jeffrey in 1966 and Peter in 1968.
Jeff Rapps is married to Kate and Pete Rapps is married to Jill.
She will always be known as ‘Nanny’ by her grandchildren Andrei, Kyle, Alec, Quinn, and Lilly.
Marianne has one younger brother, Ken Engler, who also resides in Naples with his wife, Ginny, their two sons and grandchildren.
Anyone who knew Marianne is well acquainted with her love for animals.
She’s made countless cat and dog adoptions over the decades.
The common denominator is simple; she absolutely loved providing a safe home for her pets. While the benefits of pet ownership are mutual, she enjoyed reassurance of the pets’ well-being as a primary motivation. Rewards derived as a result of their thankfulness were secondary – never prerequisite or expected in return.
Marianne loved to host friends and family. She enjoyed casual, impromptu get togethers just as much as formal holidays when she could create elaborate table settings.
She humbly performed wonders when hosting larger affairs; skillfully preparing dishes, serving multiple courses, organizing clean up, etc. – all from and within her home kitchen.
Marianne’s love of hosting was never for her own entertainment or for social gains. She truly enjoyed getting people together for the simple reason of sharing friendships and celebrating life.
We (Marianne’s family) want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all her friends and neighbors who generously provided meals through post-operation weeks and again during most recent events, as well as all the outpouring of love and support.
An unconditional love for family as well as keeping many long time, close friendships are among the many attributes we loved about her.
This is how we wish to remember Marianne, to retain some amount of her positive energy and passion in our hearts.
Marianne was born in Fredensborg Denmark and came over via Ellis Island with her Dad Paul Engler and Mother Lilly Engler. She met her husband William D. Rapps “Bill” at a New Year’s Eve Party and they were married November 14, 1964. She is survived by her husband, her son Jeffrey Rapps and wife Kate and their children, her son Pete Rapps and his wife Jill, her brother Ken and wife Ginny and their children and grandchildren.
Marianne fearlessly and courageously faced pancreatic cancer with the utmost positive attitude. She shall remain an incredible inspiration to each of us.
Close friends and family will attest to her “no time for dwelling on the negatives, let’s do the radiation and chemo to beat this thing and get better” attitude.
In between the culmination of above treatments and an upcoming, massively invasive pancreatic cancer operation known as the “Whipple Procedure”, she traveled to Denmark, followed by a cruise to ports around the Baltic Sea. She was joined by husband Bill, her two sons and their wives.
She felt great and enjoyed this trip like no other.
Marianne was a model patient with more stamina and positivity than most of us could ever muster.
She was declared ‘cancer free’ post-surgery yet remained in a high-risk category.
For the next approximately 18 months, she healed and eventually resumed her active lifestyle, including, but not limited to five-mile walks with her friends three times per week.
Shortly after this past Thanksgiving 2020 (which she insisted upon hosting and preparing dishes for), she learned that the cancer was back.
Progression of the disease was extremely quick.
She passed peacefully at home with her immediate family present on December 30, 2020.
And now for the good stuff we all like to read about 😊
The week after she turned 21, Marianne married her one and only husband, Bill, on November 14, 1964. They were married for the next 57 years.
Previous residences include the towns of Plainfield, Dunellen, and Bridgewater, New Jersey.
She and her family later lived on Lake Wallenpaupack in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania before moving to Naples, Florida in 1992.
Marianne had two sons: Jeffrey in 1966 and Peter in 1968.
Jeff Rapps is married to Kate and Pete Rapps is married to Jill.
She will always be known as ‘Nanny’ by her grandchildren Andrei, Kyle, Alec, Quinn, and Lilly.
Marianne has one younger brother, Ken Engler, who also resides in Naples with his wife, Ginny, their two sons and grandchildren.
Anyone who knew Marianne is well acquainted with her love for animals.
She’s made countless cat and dog adoptions over the decades.
The common denominator is simple; she absolutely loved providing a safe home for her pets. While the benefits of pet ownership are mutual, she enjoyed reassurance of the pets’ well-being as a primary motivation. Rewards derived as a result of their thankfulness were secondary – never prerequisite or expected in return.
Marianne loved to host friends and family. She enjoyed casual, impromptu get togethers just as much as formal holidays when she could create elaborate table settings.
She humbly performed wonders when hosting larger affairs; skillfully preparing dishes, serving multiple courses, organizing clean up, etc. – all from and within her home kitchen.
Marianne’s love of hosting was never for her own entertainment or for social gains. She truly enjoyed getting people together for the simple reason of sharing friendships and celebrating life.
We (Marianne’s family) want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all her friends and neighbors who generously provided meals through post-operation weeks and again during most recent events, as well as all the outpouring of love and support.
An unconditional love for family as well as keeping many long time, close friendships are among the many attributes we loved about her.
This is how we wish to remember Marianne, to retain some amount of her positive energy and passion in our hearts.
Here is a short video to remember Marianne: Memories with the Wings ‘Sistas’
We will all miss her dearly.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you donate to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Ln. Naples, FL 34105 or on-line at