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Marie Pappas
Marie Alta Pappas, 81, of Mountain Home and Boise, Idaho, went to meet our Lord on Friday, Dec. 9, 2011, while at a Boise hospital.
Marie was born on July 5, 1930, in Yale, S.D., to Frederick and Charlotte Genzler and was raised in Potter County in South Dakota on the family ranch outside of Gettysburg. In 1951, she married Air Force Sergeant Thomas G. Pappas and moved around the country to different Air Force installations and at two RAF installations in England.
Marie and her family moved to Aurora, Colo., in 1966. She had a very successful career with the U.S. Civil Service at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, rising from secretary to become the first female safety manager in the U.S. Army civilian service. Marie was awarded the Commander's Award for Civilian Service Medal upon her retirement, the highest award given to civilians.
She helped raise one of her grandsons, moving with them to Carlsbad, Calif., and eventually to Idaho.
She had a strong faith and was a very kind, gentle and generous person.
While she had a successful career, she still raised five wonderful children.
Her family was the most important thing in her life.
Marie is survived by her children, Diane (David) Bacca, Stephen (Susan) Pappas, Nancy Tucker, Chris (Tracey) Pappas, John (Laura) Pappas, ten grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, two sisters, Gladys Belt and Ruby (Donald) Ellsworth, and many nieces and nephews.
Our mother was a strong woman with a very gentle soul and a very warm and loving heart. She was a fun-loving mom who loved family togetherness, camping in her beloved mountains, football (especially her Denver Broncos), lively discussions and laughter.
Her smile always lit up a room and her delicate hands were skilled at beautiful needlework. Her family and her faith were most important to her and we take comfort that she is now with our Lord and all her loved ones that passed before her.
A memorial service was held Monday, Dec. 19, at the Faith Lutheran Church, Mountain Home, Idaho.