Br. Andrew Raple, O.S.B.

Brother Andrew Raple, O.S.B., died Nov. 17. He was age 90. Brother Andrew had completed 69 years of monastic profession.  At the time of his death, he was the most senior and eldest member of the monastic community.

Brother Andrew was one of eight children born Nov. 5, 1930, to George and Barbara (Plutz) Raple of Andale, Kan. He was baptized at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Andale on Nov. 30, 1930. 

He attended Saint Joseph Grade School and graduated from Andale High School in 1949. He began studies at Saint Gregory’s College in 1949 where he discerned his vocation as a Benedictine Brother, consecrating his life to serve God through prayer and manual labor. He entered the novitiate at Saint Gregory’s Abbey in 1950, professed first vows as a monk on July 2, 1951, and professed perpetual vows on July 2, 1954.

Brother Andrew developed many talents and interests as a monk. At various times he served on the abbey farm, in the abbey print shop and as a bookbinder, beekeeper, butcher and baker. In 1957, Brother Andrew became Shawnee’s first official weatherman, monitoring a small weather station sponsored by the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce and installed on the abbey grounds.  

Brother Andrew began his long tenure of service in the kitchen at Saint Gregory’s the year he arrived at the abbey. In 1963, he enrolled at Oklahoma State Technical College, working toward a degree in bakery, hotel and restaurant management. Eventually, he became manager for the food service program for Saint Gregory’s Abbey, high school, college and university, serving until his retirement in 1999.

He served as a mentor for many students, especially for students who worked under his direction in the cafeteria. He received the Saint Gregory’s University Legacy Award in recognition for his positive impact on generations of students.

Brother Andrew was a master cultivator of orchids, long-stem roses, poinsettias, Easter lilies and many other plants. He began working in the abbey greenhouse in 1968. He enjoyed sharing the beauty of its many plants with others. A member of the American Orchid Society, he cultivated more than 300 varieties of orchids, while at the same time caring for more than 200 rose plants. Each year, he grew hundreds of poinsettias and lilies that decorated the Abbey Church and other area churches at Christmas and Easter. 

Among his other interests were camping, raising whitetail deer rescued by the Oklahoma Wildlife Department and caring for a variety of other animals. He developed considerable woodworking skills, making items as varied as mosaics of wood known as “intarsia,” wooden jigsaw puzzles for children, and highly intricate wooden crosses, clocks and wall ornaments crafted with a scroll saw.  

Mass of Christian Burial was at Saint Gregory’s Abbey on Nov. 23. Interment in the abbey cemetery. 

Gifts may be contributed to the Brother Andrew Raple, O.S.B., Memorial Fund at Saint Gregory’s Abbey, 1900 W. MacArthur, Shawnee 74804, or online at monksok.org.