Roger Pape

Roger Pape, age 71, a resident of Bosque Farms, went to be with his Lord on April 22, 2014 after bravely fighting cancer over the past few months. With his keen sense of humor and uplifting spirit, people who met him loved spending time with him. He enjoyed spending time with his friends and family; he was a proud father and especially proud grandfather. He was blessed to have the company of many dear friends while he fought, he and the family will be forever grateful to the many who came by to visit him or send him get well wishes. His close friend and ex wife Lori Cordova came by everyday to bring him a treat and to help. Roger lived his faith in Jesus Christ and worshipped at Calvary Chapel in Albuquerque. Roger was born near Doniphan, Nebraska and grew up on a farm nearby; he worked hard with his parents and sister growing corn and raising cows. After college he worked at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, taught accounting at a business school and at night he had a successful dance band. He was the leader of the band, putting it together and arranging locations to play. He grew it from a polka band at the onset into a popular country western band named Pure Intensity, who played all around Nebraska and beyond. He moved away from Nebraska to continue work as a safety engineer throughout the United States, but eventually decided to move to New Mexico to be closer to his children. In New Mexico, he worked for S.E.D. and Quest Diagnostics for over ten years and continued working until the battle needed more of his attention. Though no longer in Nebraska, he was a Cornhusker at heart and proudly wore red during to root on his team during football games. He was a car enthusiast; he loved cars, especially 1971 Corvettes and Corvairs. Although he didn't get to drive his Corvair as he was restoring it, driving his Corvette always made him happy. He enjoyed racing stockcars with his son, working night after night to get it ready and scraping mud and pitting for him during races for almost 20 years. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Adeline Pape, and one great nephew Tyler Dory. He is survived by son, Jay, and wife, Katheryn of Bosque Farms, his daughter, Dana Pellegrino and fiancé Jesse DouBrava of Silver City, NM , five grandchildren-- Danielle, Anthony and Faith Pellegrino, Emily and Jacob Pape, one sister, Joyce Rasmussen, of Grand Island, Nebraska, and three nieces, one nephew, and five great nieces. A memorial service will be held at the Peralta United Memorial Church at 25 Wesley, Peralta, NM at 1 PM on Friday April 25, 2014. Arrangements entrusted to Riverside Funeral Home of Los Lunas, 820 Main St NE, (505)565-1700.