The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Meet Your Neighbor

By: Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner

Meet Your Neighbor Bobbi Thompson Tapscott of Strong-hurst. Bobbi was born in La Harpe, one of Dr. Mueller's many babies.

She was raised in Oquawka and is the daughter of Charles Thompson and Dorothy Thompson. Her dad lives in Oquawka, her mother lives in Burlington, IA. Her dad does commercial fishing and trapping but mostly did factory work until he retired. Her mother worked at Smoler's in Monmouth sewing clothing and later became a CNA and worked at Burlington Care Center until her retirement.

Bobbi was married in 1982 to Kenny Tapscott for 27 years and is now divorced. They have four children: Heather Tapscott, Jeffery (Scarlett), Nicholaus (Elizabeth), and Victoria (Joseph Smith) Tapscott.

She has nine grandchildren ranging in age from 2 to 20. Grandsons are Jake, Matthew, Devlin, Corbin, Jimmy, Hunter, and Liam and two granddaughters Anna and Kylee.

Five siblings are Debra Barnes and Carla Harris of Burlington, Iowa, Toni Matin of Gorin, Missouri, Lisa Freyling of Dubuque, Iowa and Connie Hunt-Jacobs of Biggsville.

Her grandparents, deceased, are Dale and Verna Thompson of Lomax and Emmett and Beulah (Seitz) Gaylord of Winfield, Iowa.

Bobbi was educated at Oquawka, Tri-Valley in Gladstone and Union High School. She took classes at Southeastern Community College, an EMT class in Lomax, and Management Curriculum classes in Chicago 3 days a week.

At the age of 16 she was employed as an CNA at Burlington Iowa Care Center. Her husband was in the Navy so it was difficult for her to work with the traveling. She was also employed at All-State Corporation headquarters in Northbrook, IL and in 1996 started working at Oak Lane as a CNA and in 2009 began as the administrator at Oak Wood Estates Retirement Village.

She enjoys quilting and time with family and grandchildren. She always enjoyed attending her kids sports and now is attending her grandchildren's activities.

Bobbi said, "Oak Wood is a wonderful place to work. The residents are amazing like a big family, very caring and a dedicated staff. In fact when I retire family will move me in and I'll feel right at home. They can visit anytime, the doors are always open."

Bobbi did various volunteer activities including an EMT for 16+ years, a Brownie and Girl Scout leader through the 8th grade in Stronghurst, Boy Scout leader in Wisconsin where she did camping, hiking and numerous popcorn, cookie sales and Pinewood derbies.

Her philosophy is, "A CNA takes a special person, you have to have that nurturing, caring feeling. It is something you can't teach. You can train someone how to do the job but you can't train them to love it. That comes from within."