Obituary of Alice Loraine Rappley

Alice Loraine Rappley, 79, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, September 13, 2017, at Twin Ports Health Center in Superior. Alice was born April 8, 1938 in Superior to Iver and Taimi (Tahtinen) Buchanan. She spent her childhood in Superior and Gordon, Wisconsin, and graduated from Northwood High School in Minong in 1956. She then attended the former Superior Vocational School, training to be a bookkeeper. Alice married Vernon Rappley in 1958 in Germany, where Vernon was stationed in the military. Vernon passed away in 1973. Alice loved new adventures, and over the years lived in Wisconsin, Texas, Germany, Minnesota, Colorado, Arizona, and California. She also loved to learn, and graduated from programs for Home Health Care and Certified Nursing Assistant. Alice also graduated from the Colorado School of Dog Grooming. She held many jobs over the years. For the last decade, Alice served as a Foster Grandparent at Four Corners School, helping children. Alice loved animals and always had pets, both tame and wild. She raised a deer as a child, and in later years, helped with the rehabilitation of orphaned squirrels, raccoons, otter, deer, and birds. Alice also enjoyed baking. Her favorite times were having friends and family over for coffee and cookies. She also enjoyed rock collecting, doing crossword puzzles, and going to the casino. Alice is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Vernon; brother, Ken; and several nephews. She is survived by daughters Tammie (Mike) Cramey of Foxboro and Debbie Kotera-Wedemeyer (Eric) of Redding, California; granddaughters Becky and Amber; great-grandchildren, Jordan, Morgan, Kaylnn, and Gwendolyn; brothers Larry and Les Buchanan; sister, Evelyn Buchanan; several nieces and nephews; special niece, Rusty; special nephew and his wife, Mike and Carol Buchanan; and faithful friends, Carol and Bill Nelson and Darlene and Francis Barrett. She also leaves behind her loving canine companion, Ebbie. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, October 29th, 2017, from 1pm-4pm at the Summit Town Hall on Milchesky Road in Foxboro. Inurnment at Greenwood Cemetery in Superior will take place at a later date. The family would like to extend their gratitude to Alice's caregivers at Twin Ports Health and Essentia Hospice for the compassionate care she received the past months. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Douglas County; PO Box 891; Superior, WI 54880.