Charles William Pappas, long-time restaurant owner and civic leader, died Saturday February 3 at the age of 92 in Rochester, MN.

Mr. Pappas was born in Worthington, MN on October 4, 1925. He later graduated from Rochester High School in 1943 and then proudly served in the US Army in the Pacific theater during World War II.

Upon returning from the Army in 1946 he joined his older brother George to operate the Old Covered Wagon Restaurant in Rochester, beginning a distinguished and successful career in the restaurant business that lasted close to 70 years.

In 1949 Charles married Mary Jo Gerlicher and in 1950 he entered Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. While at Cornell he played on the varsity basketball team and graduated in 1954 with a business degree from the School of Hotel Administration. In his sophomore year of 1951 he joined together with brothers George, Jim and Paul to open Michaels Restaurant of Rochester. Charles and Mary Jo traveled often between Ithaca and Rochester during the first three years of the restaurant. Charles remained active with the restaurant until retiring at age 88 when Michaels closed in 2014.

Mr. Pappas was a committed local business-owner and strong supporter of the Rochester community. He served on numerous boards and committees with a special focus on the development and vitality of downtown Rochester.

Mr. Pappas was particularly proud of his Greek heritage. He and Mary Jo traveled to Greece on several occasions to visit family and the village where his father was born.

In addition to being a great family man and business owner, Mr. Pappas was a life-long supporter of the University of Minnesota athletic department and men's basketball and football teams. In the 1970's and '80s he was Chairman of the Rochester Williams Fund to raise money for student athletes.

Mr. Pappas is survived by his wife of 68 years Mary Jo, son Brian Pappas (Brenda) of Winchester, MA, daughter Laurie VanDerHeyden of Rochester, daughter Barbara Hexum (Tom) of Rochester, and son Charlie Pappas (Brian) of Minneapolis.

He is also survived by grandchildren Mary Ellen (Bryan), David, Emily and Madeline VanDerHeyden, Abigail and Charlie Hexum, and Nicholas and Charlotte Pappas. He was preceded in death by parents Michael and Mary Pappas, brothers George, Jim and Paul Pappas, and sister Mary Jane De Concini.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church (11 4th Ave SW, Rochester, MN 55902) with Rev. Msgr. Gerald Mahon officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, February 12  in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and one hour prior to the Mass  at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

The Charles Pappas family would like to thank the amazing staff of Seasons Hospice and the dedicated care-givers from Home Instead Senior Care.

The family prefers contributions to either Seasons Hospice or St. John's Catholic Church, both of Rochester.