Donald H. Reap
Donald Hugh Reap entered this fantastic world on October 28, 1927 around or about 1:00 a.m. and his proud parents were Arthur and Elizabeth (Spellman) Reap. Born at home in a little hamlet called Malvern, Illinois in Whiteside County, Illinois he joined three brothers and three sisters; half-brother Clarence and a half-sister Francis, Charles and Edward “Ted”, Arlene and Mary. After his birth he was joined by three other sisters, Agnes, Kathryn, and Beverly, who died after living for about 45 days. All of his siblings are deceased.
On August 28, 2017 the Angels came and took him by his hands and told him that it was time to join his loved ones and friends in the paradise called Heaven.
Don is survived by the love of his life, Dorothy Ann (Libberton); a daughter, who resides in Tipton, Susan Forkner and husband Michael; two sons, Michael, who resides in Miami, Florida and Patrick, who resides in Orlando, Florida; five grandchildren, Brian Reap and wife Kristin, Jessica Forkner, Leanna Forkner, Robert Forkner, and David Forkner and wife Tiffany; three great-granddaughters, Ashlynn and Braylan Reap, and Rosemary Forkner.
Don’s family moved to Mt. Carroll, Illinois when he was in fourth grade and resided there until he enlisted (5/46) in the Army Air Force which later became the U.S. Air Force. After three years of duty he was discharged (5/49) with the rank of Sergeant and enrolled at Carthage College, Carthage, Illinois. During his time at Carthage, he married the love of his life, Dorothy on December 30, 1950 and at the time of his passing they had been married for 66 years. Upon graduation from Carthage (6/53) he started his YMCA Career at Keokuk, Iowa YMCA as their Program and Physical Director. His YMCA career journey led him to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Metropolitan YMCA, Kosciusko Community YMCA in Warsaw, Indiana and then to join the staff of the State YMCA of Indiana and later to the Indianapolis Metropolitan YMCA. In April of 1971 he resigned his position at the Indianapolis Association and became a sales representative for Picker International X-Ray Company and enjoyed an exceptional 22 year career and retired at age 65 as their Sr. Account Executive.
Retirement was not long for him as he soon became a security employee “yellow shirt’ at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, an Executive for Mustard Seed in Tipton, an usher supervisor for the Indianapolis Football Team (Colts) and after submitting his college transcript, became a substitute teacher. He enjoyed substituting at Tipton, Indiana and Hamilton Heights, Arcadia, Indiana. He substituted so often for Hamilton Heights that he ended up subbing only at Heights and truly enjoyed twenty years as their substitute teacher. His love and patience for the students and their love and patience for him was a mutual understanding. Working with young people and enjoying their enthusiasm was a tremendous experience and helped him to stay young while growing older.
Don excelled in athletics as he played basketball, football, and track in high school, in the U.S. Air Force at Scott Field and at Carthage College. Also he played a lot of racquetball, hand ball, and had a great passion for golf.
He was very active in the United Methodist Church in communities in which he resided and became a Certified Lay Speaker which enabled him to serve the pulpit in many churches. He especially enjoyed preaching at his home Methodist Church in Mt. Carroll, Illinois and at the Episcopal Methodist Church in Kempton, Indiana and Kemp United Methodist Church in Tipton, Indiana. When they resided in Indianapolis, Indiana he was very active in the Lawrence Methodist Church serving in the various capacities as Administrative Board Chairperson, Lay Leader, Lay Speaker, and Church School Superintendent plus serving their pulpit on several occasions.
Don, now as of August 28, 2017 has entered into Eternity and is being escorted by the Angels. He is looking with much anticipation in meeting Jesus. For his Love for our Lord and Savior Jesus is abundant and overflowing.
So to all my loved ones and friends, don’t be sad for I’ve had a tremendous journey with a wonderful lovely wife and family and now it’s time for me to meet my creator.
Funeral services will be at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 2, at the Kemp United Methodist Church in Tipton with Pastor Gary Eberhart presiding. Visitation will also be Saturday from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the church. After cremation, burial will follow in Mt. Carroll at a later date. Young-Nichols Funeral Home, Tipton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorial donations may be made to either the Kemp United Methodist Church, 228 N. Main Street, Tipton, Indiana, 46072 or the Mt. Carroll Methodist Church, 216 S. Main Street, Mt Carroll, Illinois, 61053.
I am so sorry for your loss. We will miss Don everyday.
Im so sorry for your family’s loss. Don was a good man, a great mentor and a faithful friend to young and old. I will miss him. I’m very thankful to have shared Mustard Seed,s mission with him..He will be remembered fondly. Prayers of peace and comfort .
My condolences on the loss of your father. I will remember him always greeting me with a smile and a hello, whenever I would see him at the monthly dinners at the church. I am sure he will be missed by many. Thoughts and prayers are with you all.
We are so sorry for your loss. We will certainly miss Don’s neighborly wave, entertaining conversation and unsurpassed kindness toward others. What a blessing it was to know him.
Don Reap was truly a treasure to us here on Earth, and now he receives his reward in Heaven. I am privileged to have been his “sub supervisor” for several years at Hamilton Heights. There was never a job he would turn away. He just LOVED being here with our kids, and our kids loved having Mr. Reap as their substitute teacher. He always asked me about my own children every time he saw me. I am going to miss him terribly! Dorothy, my thoughts and prayers continue for you and your entire family.
I will miss the talks I had with Don. As his mail carrier, I looked forward to our quick chats at the mailbox, and running into Don and Dorothy at the K of C Fish Fry through the years. He will truly be missed and his family are in my thoughts and prayers. I will also miss seeing his smiling face, driving that little red Mustang in the parades he so enjoyed!
Ramona and I are very sorry for your lose. Don was a good man and will be missed!! Don & Ramona Stetson
My sincere condolences to you, Susan, and your entire family. My siblings had Mr. Reap as a substitute and he was described as being AWESOME! It takes an awesome person to excel at being a substitute teacher. My prayers for comfort and peace.
Reap family, I am so very sorry for your loss. Mr. Reap was one of the best men I’ve ever met in my life. Having him as a substitute teacher at Hamilton Heights many years ago always brightened my day in school. What a sweet and gentle soul, he will be missed until we meet again in eternity.
Don was truly an awesome man. He greeted me and my wife every Sunday in church and was a very pleasant addition to Kemp Church. He was very involved in church activities and was very instrumental in the construction of the most recent addition to the church. He was not afraid of doing any aspect of the construction process and did it with a smile on his face. My condolences to Dorothy, Susan, and Mike along with the rest of the family. We will truly miss Don!
I am sorry for your loss from me and my dad..
My parents, Newman and Dorothy Cryer, were friends of Don and Dorothy Ann. They all met through Lawrence United Methodist. During my dad’s retirement, he’d get a call from Don to meet for coffee and off he’d go. I recently read of Don’s passing in the Lawrence church paper; both Don and Dorothy Ann were a joy to my parents’ lives.