Richard Dean Pappas

July 5, 1933 - November 26, 2020

Richard Dean Pappas, 87, of Creve Coeur, Illinois passed away on Thursday, November 26, 2020 at Washington Senior Living in Washington, Illinois. Richard was born on July 5, 1933 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Clara Jane Ritter. He lived in Table Grove, Illinois until age 7, when he and his family moved to Creve Coeur, Illinois. Richard married JoAnn Marie Boseke Johnson (born Charlotte Maurine Tippett) on September 23, 1956 in Creve Coeur, Illinois. JoAnn predeceased him on July 17, 2009. Surviving are daughter Neta Marie (Gary) Royse of Peoria, Illinois and stepson Thomas Matthew (Tracy) Johnson of Washington, Illinois, two grandchildren Benjamin Matthew (Tiffany) Johnson of Germantown Hills, Illinois and Kayla Marie (Dani) Johnson of Washington, Illinois, along with two great-granddaughters Rebecca Darlene and Nora Rose Johnson of Germantown Hills, Illinois. He is also survived by a sister Donna Mae Feldman of Renville, Minnesota, brother-in-law Paul Stanley (Patsy) Tippett of Youngsville, North Carolina, and stepsister Ruby Jean (Robert) Waibel of Phoenix, Arizona, and many nieces and nephews and their families. He was predeceased by his mother and stepfather Orvul Benton Henry, his wife and 14 of her siblings, and stepsister Ina Laura (Wilburn) Fuller of Wicomico Church, Virginia. Richard was a Korean War veteran. Through Ancestry DNA, Richard found his sister Donna after searching for her for over 50 years. Last November Richard and his family were able to meet his sister Donna, her eight children and their families. It was truly an amazing day. Richard retired from Caterpillar, Inc. retiring in 1991 after working in the Mapleton foundry for 39 years. He was a member of Days of Grace Fellowship Church in Morton, Illinois. Services will be at Schmidt-Haller Burial and Cremation Srevices in Peoria, Illinois on Friday, December 4, 2020 at 11:00 am. Burial with military honors will be in Swan Lake Cemetery Memory Gardens in Peoria, Illinois. Memorials can be given to Peoria Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association.