John Theodore Pappas

1921 - 2015

Pappas, John Theodore
Age 94, died at Glencroft Assisted Living Facility, Glendale Arizona on Friday December 25, 2015. He was born July 6, 1921 in Chillicothe, Illinois, to the late Theodore and Velma Pappas. He graduated from Woodruff High School, Peoria in 1938. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 1939 and served in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) during WWII. His Army service records indicate that his ETO service included the battles of Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe combat. His ETO citations include 1Silver and 1 Bronze Battle Star with 6 Overseas Service Bars. He is listed in the National WWII Memorial registry. He received his Army Honorable Discharge papers at Fort Sheridan, Illinois in June 1945. On February 17, 1946, he was united in marriage to Martha K. Neuhauser of Eureka, IL. John pursued a career in farming east of Eureka from the late 1940s through 1968. In 1968, Martha and John moved to Champaign, IL where he was employed as a chauffeur. He and Martha retired in 1980 and after extensive travel adventures with an RV throughout the U.S., relocated to Phoenix, AZ in 1983. John was a member of the Roanoke Mennonite Church and later, the First Mennonite church of Champaign/Urbana. John is survived by his son John (Ted) Jr., and daughter-in- law, Rosie Pappas of Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. His wife Martha and youngest son Roger preceded him in death. A memorial service is planned May 21, 2016 at Roanoke Mennonite Church, 1195 County Rd., Eureka, IL 61530. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in his name for Glencroft Assisted Living Facility, 8641 N. 67th Avenue, Glendale, AZ 85302. Visit hansenmortuary.com for condolences.