Bonnie Pappas

Bonnie Pappas, 87, of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away on the morning of Friday, August 16, 2024 with her daughter at her side at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown.

Per Bonnie’s wishes, cremation rites have been accorded and no formal services will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to her family for a later designation. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Bonnie Rae Curtis was born August 3, 1937 in Clinton, Iowa. She was raised by her mother Marie (Petersen) (Curtis) Minnehan in Clinton, Iowa and graduated from Clinton High School in the Class of 1955. She went on to attend courses in accounting and business at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa.

In September 1957, Bonnie was united in marriage to Robert (Bob) Crabtree. They welcomed three children: Steven, James, and Debra and lived in Cedar Rapids and Marion, Iowa before settling in Tama, Iowa. In addition to her job at the Tama Herald during the day, in the evenings Bonnie owned and operated Zenos Pizza in Toledo from 1972 to 1977, working alongside Bob until his death in 1975.

In 1976 Bonnie met Gus Pappas and the two were united in marriage on April 7, 1977 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They moved to Marshalltown where Bonnie held several office assistant and bookkeeping jobs over the years, including with her husband Gus at his pharmacy Gregor Drug, with chiropractor Dr. Joel Beane, and with dentist/orthodontist Dr. David Wilson. After her retirement, she worked for Mitchell Family Funeral Home part time as a greeter for visitations and services.

Bonnie and Gus were members of the First Congregational Church in Marshalltown. Gus passed away in 2015 and in 2019 Bonnie moved to Glenwood Place where she would spend her final years among many friends.

In her free time, when she had it, Bonnie enjoyed reading books, drawing, doing coloring pages, and, most importantly, spending time with her family who she adored.

Those left to remember and cherish her memory are her children, Steven Crabtree of New Mexico, Aggie Crabtree of Brooklyn, Iowa, and Deb (Jon) Reuter of Marshalltown. Additionally, she is survived by her grandchildren, Desiree Crabtree, Kayla (Chad) Kalina, Jeannie Crabtree, Ashley Goble, Kelli (David) Killean, and Ben Reuter; her great-grandchildren, Emerson Crabtree-Miller, Shaun Goble, Amelia Goble, Zoey Goble, and Finnegan Killean; and her sister, Lynn Curtis.

She is preceded in death by her husbands, Robert Crabtree and Gus Pappas; her son, Jim Crabtree; her mother, Marie (Curtis) Minnehan, and her brothers Dick Curtis and Bob Curtis.