Gerald Russell Papke

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

The presence of his absence is everything.