~ IN MEMORY ~
PNA/WA Capt. Gerald “Jerry” Russell Papke
April 19, 1925 – March 12, 2025
Jerry joined Pacific Northern Airlines 8/19/1953
and retired with Western Airlines as PNA had merged with Western back in 1967. Widowed in 2016 with the passing of his wife *Bonnie,
Jerry is survived by his children and their families.
PCN memorial site
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/285154314/gerald_russell-papke
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/bullhead-city-az/gerald-papke-12282921
IN THE CARE OF Dimond & Sons Silver Bell Chapel
Jerry Papke, age 99,
made his final journey to “The Happy Hunting Ground” on Wednesday, March 12,
2025. He departed from his home, overlooking the desert animals, and was
surrounded by his children in his final days.
Jerry grew up in Polson, Montana. He spent his young days swimming at the
family cabin, boating, hunting, working on ranches, and going to school when he
had to. At 17, he joined the Marines and fought for our freedom in WWII, across
the South Pacific. Upon his return, he worked for the Forest Service and
logged, depending on the season. Jerry and his brother Jim, were the last hand
cut logging team for their company. For the Forest Service, he worked as a Fire
lookout and guided a biologist studying how elk herds avoided starvation in the
winter. The forest service was not for the faint of heart. Grizzly encounters,
snow so deep that you dug from the roof to the bottom of the door to enter a
cabin and months alone were just a few of his adventures. Knowing he couldn’t
log forever, the Montana Mountain Man moved to Los Angeles and used the GI bill
to study Aviation Mechanics. In LA he took various jobs while going to school.
Imagine, Montana Mountains, alone for months, to driving trucks through LA
traffic! He had met the love of his life, Bonnie, while in Montana, and brought
her to LA with him. Most of his early career was spent in the mountains. His
final career was as an airline Captain, flying over the land that he loved, or
was it? After retiring, Jerry worked another 20 years, packing in and guiding
hunters beside his son, Russ, for Colorado High Guide. He braided and sold
custom reins and dog leashes through his daughter Laurie’s company, Wild West
Leather and Fur. This is actually only a partial list of his jobs, but what was
most important about Jerry’s careers were his integrity, bravery, lifelong
learning skills and most importantly his ability to create deep and lasting
relationships across the decades and the country.
Though an important part of his life, he could not be defined by his
careers. He would be better defined by the man that he was. He was an amazing
husband, father, brother, mentor and friend. He was a man of community, who was
always looking out for the welfare of others. Jerry was a man who would stop to
help people he didn’t know, invite strangers to Thanksgiving and help his
neighbors at the drop of a hat. He was everyone’s go to man, whether you had a
rattlesnake on your porch, your vehicle stuck in the snow, something broken
down, a need for a “stand in” dad to teach you how to ride a bike, or fatherly
advice. He volunteered for the fire department, as a Peace Corps volunteer in
Africa, spoke in schools, drove DAV Veterans to Vegas well into his 80’s, and
actively supported Unity Spiritual Center of Mohave Valley. He inspired people
with his kindness, positive attitude and the ability to find good in everything
and everyone. In his 90’s when asked what the key to happiness is, he said,
“not judging others” which left people of all ages and backgrounds feeling
welcomed and appreciated by him.
Jerry was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie; parents, Doris and Joe
Papke; daughter, Brenda (Bob) Papke; granddaughter, Lindiwe Ann Khali; his
brother, Jim Papke and sister Patricia Papke.
Jerry is survived by his children, Laurie (Dee) Zimmershied, Nancy
(Dennis) Papke and Russ (Susan) Papke; his grandchildren, Scott Cocharo, Lauren
(Mark) Maloy, Kyle Papke, Dan (Tori) Cocharo, Lee (Hanna) Andersen, Andy Papke,
Dillon Kuzins and Danielle Saye; and great grandchildren; Brandon Cocharo, Sam
and Thomas Maloy, Bonnie and Alice Anderson, Abigail Cocharo, and Ashton and
Cole Sprague
The family invites those who knew him to honor his life with a “Final
Toast” on April 19, 2025. The gathering will be an open house at his home in
Bullhead City. Please contact one of his children for more details.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to donate to one of Jerry’s
favorite charities, one of your own, or try to live by his words, “Everyday I
pray I can make someone’s life better.”
*Unity Spiritual Center of Mohave Valley, 967 Hancock Rd Ste 93, Bullhead
City, AZ, 86442 unityofmohavevalley.org
*Diamondback Elementary School: PTO Papke Memorial Fund, 2550 Tesota Way,
Bullhead City, AZ 86442
(please mention in all Memo’s Papke Memorial Fund)
*Southern Nevada VA Healthcare ww.cdceportal.va.gov/donate_online
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
*BONNIE PAPKE (1929 - 2016)
https://pcnflightwest.blogspot.com/2016/04/death-of-bonnie-wife-of-dl-capt-gerald.html
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/175736286/bonnie-lou-papke
Bonnie Lou Thompson Papke
Birth 22
Dec 1929
Kalispell, Flathead County, Montana
Death 22
Apr 2016 (aged 86)
Mohave County, Arizona
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