Gus E. Pappas

Gus E. Pappas, 86 of South Sioux City passed away peacefully at his home Saturday June 16, 2012 after a long illness. Services will be 10:30 A.M. Thursday at St. Paul United Methodist Church in South Sioux City, with Rev. Stephen Niles officiating, followed by a military flag presentation. Following the service there will be a lunch in the church fellowship hall. There will be a family graveside service in the City Cemetery, Obert, Nebraska. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 P.M. Wednesday at Becker – Hunt Funeral Home. Gus was born January 29, 1926 in Sioux City, Iowa the son of Jerry and Laura J. (Bakke) Pappas. He attended East High School in Sioux City. He enlisted in and served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 until 1946. On October 26, 1946, he married Carol D. Nielsen in the Bowles Methodist Church in South Sioux City. He was a member of the Methodist Men and was on the board building committee for the construction of the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church building. He was called back into active service in 1950 and served as a Pharmacist’s Mate 2nd Class on the USS Benevolence. He was honorably discharged February 16, 1953. Gus first worked at Soderstram Dairy in Sioux City. The remainder of his career was managing paint stores and hotels in Sioux City, Iowa, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Omaha, Nebraska. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and was an usher. He was also a member of the America Legion Post 97 in Homer, Nebraska. Survivors include two daughters and their husbands: Cynthia and Mike Cowley of Houston, Texas, Claudia and Phil Neal of Woodbury, Minnesota, a sister Georgia Ellis of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, four grandchildren: Justin Neal, Ryan Cowley, Jessica (Christian) Wilson and Adam Cowley and three great grandchildren: Drew Montgomery, Hailey Neal and Claire Wilson and his loving companion Betty Prosser and the Prosser family. Gus was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Carol June 10, 1992 in Sioux City, a daughter Patricia Ann Pappas and a brother John Pappas.