Joseph T. Rapole

Joseph T. Rapole, age 88, passed away peacefully on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016, at ManorCare Health Services of Bethlehem, Pa. Formerly of Franklin, Wantage and Deer Trail Lake, Joseph was born in Franklin, N.J., March 18, 1928, to the late Mr. John and Elizabeth (Postas) Rapole of Mabie Street, Franklin, N.J.
Joseph T. Rapole served in WWII in Bremerhaven, Germany. He was honorably discharged by both the US Army and US Navy. He was president of the local Kiwanis and served as Mayor of Hardyston Twp. He also owned a liquor store in Hamburg for many years and owned a Real Estate Cosmpany with his wife, Virginia. He served as a plant manager of Simmonds Precision of Cedar Knolls, NJ before he retired.
Joseph was the the fifth child of seven children born as first generation Hungarian-Americans. He is predeceased by his loving wife, Virginia (Brown) Rapole of over 60 years, his brothers, John (Rapole), William (Rapoli) and James (Rapole) and two sisters, Caroline Walters and Marian Kiss.
He is survived by his children Nancy R. Sliker (Thomas) of Sandy Hook, Conn., John S. Rapole of Greenville, N.Y., five grandchildren, Corinne N. (Sliker) Reppenhagen, Thomas J. Sliker (T.J,) and Rachel E. Sliker of Sandy Hook, Conn.. Joseph J. Rapole and Stephen A. Rapole of Greenville, N.Y., and two great grandchildren, Colyn Deserio-Rapole (9) of Greenville, N.Y., and Riley Nicole Reppenhagen (6) of Sandy Hook, CT., and his loving sister, Betty (Bob) Allen of Franklin, N.J., and several cousins.
Joe was a talented untrained artist and had a love for music and singing. You could always catch him whistling or singing an old classic song. He had an amazing sense of humor that brought smiles to every person he met. When he looked at you he had a twinkle in his green eyes. After raising his daughter, Nancy and son, John in Deer Trail, NJ with his wife Ginny he enjoyed the later years traveling across the United States and the Caribbean. Joe and Ginny settled in Bethlehem, PA for 30 years before she passed on July 29, 2011 After her passing, Joe lived at ManorCare Health Services in Bethlehem, PA until his death.
Joe and Ginny loved being with their grandchildren. They never missed one birthday, sports event or dance recital. Every Christmas Eve they would pack their car with garbage bags of presents and celebrate the evening with their children and later grandchildren and great grandchildren. It was a family tradition that went on for generations. Joe also had a love for photography. He had a Zeiss DSLR camera from 1964 that he loved using to capture candids of his family members. His talents of art and music are shared with his grandchildren today and are forever cherished. Memories of him singing “Chickery Chick” with his grandkids dancing on his toes around the room are forever embedded in our memories. Joe also played a mean game of golf. He took his grandchildren to the Miniature Golf place at an early age and taught them how to appreciate the sport. Afterwards he would treat them to an ice cream cone. Joseph will be missed by many but he left a wonderful legacy behind him.
A nemorial service with military honors will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. with services at 1:30 p.m. at F. John Ramsey Funeral Home, One Main St., Franklin, NJ. A buffet lunch will be held after the service at Sit n' Chat Diner, 428 NJ-23 Franklin, NJ 07416.