On August 13, Richard "Rick' Papke, 77, of Tellico Village, lost his battle with COVID-19.
He leaves his love with his wife Elyse, sons Daniel, David and Eliot, the people of Tellico Village and all those he left behind.
Rick was alway one who wanted to help his country and his local community. He served as a US Navy hospital corpsman for eight years in Vietnam and six years in the U.S. Naval Reserves. After leaving the Navy, Rick served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 35 years and retired in 2006 as a detective lieutenant.
Rick joined the Tellico Village Volunteer Fire Department in November 2OO7.He became an Emergency Medical Technician-A in 2008, a Basic Life Support instructor shortly thereafter and has been the primary instructor for BLS and the Emergency Medical Responders program since 2009. Rick also served as Deputy Chief for medical support.
The Papke family will host a celebration of life at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct.9, 2023, at First Baptist Church in Tellico Village.
Rick devoted his life of service freely and without expectations. TVVFD is accepting remembrances in his honor.
-Reprinted from The Connection Sept. 6, 2023