James Rapalee

1943 - 2026

James Edwin Rapalee, 83, went to be with our Lord on February 8, 2026. He passed away at his home in Goochland County. He was born January 11, 1943, in Richmond, Virginia, son of the late Lyle Edwin and Marion Wanderer Rapalee.

Jim grew up in Santa Cruz, California and Powhatan County. After graduating from Powhatan High School in 1960, he proudly served four years in the United States Navy, where he worked as a mechanic on the flight deck repairing helicopters. Jim held several jobs over the years, including working for the Richmond Police Department as a police officer, and C & P Telephone Company, before pursuing his true passion of taxidermy full-time in 1970.

Jim was a member of Mizpah Christian Church and served as a volunteer with Fife Co. 4 Fire Department for many years. He also attended the very first meeting of the Virginia Taxidermists Association.

At the age of 13, Jim took a correspondence course through the mail to learn taxidermy as a hobby. Later, he apprenticed for several years under the late John Woodson of Woodson's Taxidermy. In 1970, Jim founded Rapalee Taxidermy.

Jim's talent and artistic ability enabled Rapalee Taxidermy to flourish, eventually outgrowing his backyard studio. He moved the business to a second location in the late 1970s and continued to operate it until the late 1990s, when he turned operations over to his son to battle aggressive cancer. Jim won his cancer battle and continued to work at the business until his official retirement in 2007.

Jim had many interests and talents. He always grew a large garden with a variety of vegetables and shared whatever was in season with family and neighbors. If there was a bag of greens or beets hanging from your gate or sitting by your door, you knew who they were from.

Jim deeply loved nature and found beauty in everything around him. He enjoyed growing flowers and always brought a bouquet into the house for Nancy. He loved wildlife and being outdoors.

Jim had many artistic talents; he could carve, work with clay, paint, and more. He loved to hunt, fish and trap, but his true passion was turkey hunting. He never missed a morning of the season while he was able and was a proud member of "The Tenth Legion."

In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by a daughter, Sonya Marie Rapalee.

Jim treasured his family, and they adored him. He will be missed beyond words.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Nancy Mayo Rapalee; a son, James Todd Rapalee (Vickie), a daughter, E. Lynn Rapalee Mann (Gary); three grandchildren, Dillon Rapalee, Lauren Mann McGrath (Caleb), and Caroline Mann, (friend, James Carson); two great-grandchildren, Oakley and Waylon McGrath; and a special lifelong friend, Ed Banzi of Massachusetts, with whom he served in the U.S. Navy.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Mizpah Christian Church on March 29, 2026, at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Fife Co. 4 Fire & Rescue or the American Cancer Society.