Michael Allen Pappas

Michael “Mike” Pappas of Salt Lake City, Utah passed away peacefully on Sunday, Sep 24, 2023. He was our wonderful father, husband, handyman, and Papa. 

Born February 17, 1954 to John and Jean Pappas he grew up in the  Avenues causing trouble with his 3 brothers and 1 sister. Always loving the outdoors he spent his childhood hiking in the Salt Lake foothills or fishing the Uinta’s high altitude lakes. Showing early on a love and aptitude for carpentry that eventually would turn into his lifelong profession. He would attend East High School where he met his future wife Leslie Pappas. Never one to wait for anything, they were married before graduation and eager to start a life. Young love that started at 17 and continued for 52 years of marriage.
After high school as a new husband and father, he entered into the world of framing houses. Never one to back down from anything he continued at it for 4 years before he and Leslie decided to start their own business. He worked tirelessly at it growing the family business into a thriving operation that is still active today. He worked through the hot summers and cold winters doing what he loved, his body took a toll from such a physical job yet he always just laughed about it as the doctors or Mom stitched whatever was bleeding back together.
He would always say that framing pays for his true love being a father and eventually getting promoted to Papa. He would go on to have 3 kids, Michelle, his first child, who he loved taking to Southern Utah in his Jeep and getting lost in the backcountry. Anne, his second child, he loved attending her many art exhibits to admire her talent. His youngest, Michael, he loved taking to job sites so he could learn, as he called it, the “right way to frame a house”. 
He would go on to enjoy his success with his wife and family by building his beloved cabin, a labor of love that the family will always cherish. Later discovering his love for the Oregon Coast, he loved spending long lazy days on the beach building sand castles with the grandkids, throwing the ball for his Golden Retrievers, and roasting marshmallows with the grandkids as the sun went down. He and his wife would go on to travel the world, from the Pyramids of Giza to the Eiffel tower, the Swiss Alps to the Great Wall, always ready for an adventure, the two of them never waiting for anything and living life to the fullest.
Mike is survived by the love of his life Leslie, his wife, best friend, baby tag teamer, and partner through thick and thin. Daughter Michelle and spouse Robert. Daughter Anne and spouse Peter. Son Michael and spouse Briana. Five grandchildren Zoe, Piper, Beck, Simone and Elliot.
He built a wonderful life with Leslie, he always said “I did ok for a nail bender”.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, Oct 4, 2023 at his home. Please contact Leslie or his children for details. He would have loved everyone raising a glass, telling a funny story, and celebrating an amazing life.