Robert Alan Pape

Our father Robert Pape passed away at St. Peters Hospital with his children, grandchildren and some of his great grandchildren around him on December 17 2025 at the age of 86. He is survived by his children Don (DeAnna) Pape, Debbie (Joe) Olayvar, and Doug Pape. He is also survived by 4 grandchildren and spouses, 3 bonus grandchildren and spouses. His great grandchildren number at 21.

He was born in Kongsberg North Dakota near the town of Velva on October 10th 1939. The youngest of 9 siblings He spent the first 8 years there and then in 1948 moved with his parents and the 3 older siblings that were still living at home to Yelm Washington. They then relocated to the town of Rainier WA. , renting a Dairy Farm near the Vail Logging camp where they remained until Dad graduated from Rainier High School in the class of 1959.

Our Dad loved the outdoors. He hunted and fished his whole life. He married the girl he met in second grade at Rainier grade school, Diane Weisdepp (also class of 1959) on October 28, 1960. They were married 58 years until Diane’s death in 2019. Both our parents instilled in us a great love for fishing, hunting, camping, backwoods travel and many trips to the Beach. We then passed this on to our kids and grandkids. He also had a great love for street rods. He purchased a 1934 ford 5 window coupe in 1963. He spent many hours with his brothers, friends and his wife and kids getting it ready to go to Rod Runs (Car Shows). The car became a member of our family and will remain so.

Dads work life included working at Weyerhaeuser Vail/MacDonald tree farm as a heavy equipment operator from 1959 to 1967 then went to work for Washington State Department of Fisheries (later renamed Department of Fish and Wildlife) where he started as a heavy equipment operator and then retiring in 1997 as a construction superintendent. Dads work schedule required him to be gone Monday thru Friday. In the summer we would camp near the construction projects he was working on. Our family saw most of the western Washington fish hatcheries and the country surrounding them.

He leaves behind his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Diane, his parents William and Burdie Pape, his siblings Helen DuPuis, Charles Pape , Eugene Payseno Sr (Tom), Delbert Pape, Leland Pape, Mary Page, William Pape and David Pape.

The celebration of life will be at Mills and Mills in Tumwater WA with the Date and time to be announced. All friends and family are welcome.