Donald Rogers Papa

Donald Rogers Papa was born on a corner in Winslow, Arizona on June 3, 1946 to Beatrice Rogers and George Michael Papa.  Don was the second of five sons.  Beatrice was the granddaughter of Mormon Pioneers who settled Snowflake, Arizona and George was the Catholic son of Yugoslavian immigrants.  Don was proud of his heritage.  In Don’s early life he lived in Joseph City where his family operated a trading post.  The family then moved to Snowflake and Pinedale, Arizona where his mother was a teacher.  During these younger years, Don escaped near death from drowning, drinking gasoline, and brotherly fights.  Eventually the family moved to Chinle on the Navajo Nation where Don graduated from high school.  Don was grateful to add this culture to his heritage.

Following his high school graduation and heeding the advice of his dying grandfather, Don hitchhiked his way to Eastern Arizona College.  Don then served a mission in Santiago, Chile and continued to have many unbelievable adventures. When Don’s plane landed in Phoenix after his mission, instead of hitchhiking home, Don decided to stay in the valley for school.  That day he met Kathleen Nichols.  Don and Kathleen were married in the Mesa, Arizona Temple on July 26, 1968.

Don and Kathleen created a life together that included the addition of six amazing children, 36 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Family was of utmost importance and Don knew his kids were the best.  He was a sideline coach at all their events, attending games, practices and concerts.  Even if he did not have experience with the sport or talent, he still coached.  For his five daughters he spent many summers coaching Mesa Girls Softball. Don took the family camping, fishing, and was forever trying to get his boats ready to get out on the lake for an epic trip.  Camp trips were loud and Don had fishing trips down to a science so each child was ensured success.  Don continued to support his grandchildren in all their activities and his booming Papa voice could be heard all the way across a high school track.

Don loved to tease and would play jokes on those he loved.  He could be spotted walking down the street in a black cloak, white boots and an alien mask or rolling down the window of his white pickup truck to joke with the neighborhood kids.

Don was a teacher.  He began his career teaching the elementary grades in Clay Springs, Arizona.  He graduated from ASU and went on to get his Masters and Educational Specialist degrees.  Over the span of four decades, Don also taught at Hawthorne Elementary, Poston Junior High, Salt River Elementary, and Balsz District.  Don’s children would never escape the question, “Are you related to Mr. Papa?”  Mr. Papa was not an ordinary teacher.  He was a storyteller, a jokester, he wrestled kids in class and he cared more about the future of the child than the curriculum he taught.

Don worked hard for his family.  In addition to his regular teaching contracts, he also drove school buses, had a paper route, taught A hour, coached after school sports and taught thousands of kids in summer school.

After five years in Clay Springs, Arizona, Don and Kathleen moved to 85201.  Don and Kathleen were founding members of the Westwood Ward in the Maricopa Stake of Zion.  Don helped coach many championship church softball teams and he loved working with the youth.  One former youth proclaimed Don was, “one of the meanest, kindest men I’ve ever known.”

Don loved hunting, but not just for game.  He hunted treasures as well and became obsessed with eBay, Goodwill and yard sales.  Don was forever trying to take someone else’s trash and make it a treasure. His grandchildren fondly remember rides in his yellow “vehicle” appropriately named the Clunker Junker. He also saw the treasure in people often down on their luck.  Don showed up for people in need.

On the evening of Friday, March 14, 2025, surrounded by his wife and children, Don went quietly home to heaven to somehow wrestle his younger brother Drew in spirit, hug his parents George and Beatrice and hold his granddaughter Sadie. He is free from the mind and body that began to fail him and we feel his loud and happy spirit being made whole.

Don is survived by his wife Kathleen, his children, Kristen (Bracken) Walker, Thomas (Karra) Papa, Kari (Brian) Mills, Katie (Renny) Ison, Karyn (Justin) Olson, and Kathryn (Ryan) Melzer.  His 35 surviving grandchildren and one great grandchild continue to live on in the Papa way and might be spotted wearing a bright orange Grandpa Papa hat. They will surely miss the random dollar bills offered for splendid performances and the hunt for the pink pig.  Don is also survived by his brothers, George (Debra) Papa, John (Debbie) Papa, and Joe (Mitzi) Papa and his sister-in-law Carol Ann Rowley.

Don spent a lifetime creating a name to be known by thousands.  Come celebrate the life of Donald Rogers Papa.

Saturday, March 29th at 11 AM

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

613 N. Stewart, Mesa 85201

Viewing from 10 -10:45 AM

Viewing at Bunker’s Mortuary

Friday, March 28th from 5-7 PM

33 N. Centennial Way, Mesa 85201

To watch via zoom, please use this link: https://zoom.us/j/93535864339?pwd=NlNIRThtcllvZUwzOG0xVDA1V1Njdz09

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.