Jozsef Imre Papp

Jozsef “Joe” passed away in Walla Walla, Washington on April 23, 2023. He was 84 years old.

Joe was born in Dorog, Hungary to Jozsef and Hidi Papp. As a young man he became a Hungarian freedom fighter and participated in the 1956 revolution against the Soviet-backed communist regime. He was amongst a group of Hungarian citizens that pulled down a statue of Stalin in Budapest, photographs of which appeared in many magazines of the time. Joe fled Hungary when it became too dangerous for him to stay and joined United States military operations in Italy. He later immigrated to the United States and joined the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Lewis, WA. While there he met and later married Geraldine Gies, taking on the role of father to her two girls. They later moved from Tacoma to his wife’s hometown, Walla Walla, WA. After settling in Walla Walla, their son Steven was born.

Joe held a variety of jobs during his life, including working at his father-in-law Bill Gies’ Shell gas station and later as a correctional officer at the Washington State Penitentiary. But he was proudest of opening his own auto repair business in Walla Walla, Autocraft, where he worked until his retirement. Joe enjoyed home improvement projects, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. He was able to travel to Hungary several times, and cherished time spent with his Hungarian family.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Geraldine; brother, István Papp; and sister, Erzsébet Papp. He is survived by his sister, Valinéni Ujfalusi in Hungary; his son, Steven (Toni) of Milton-Freewater, OR; daughters, Liz Jessee (Guy) and Debra Oswald, both of Walla Walla, WA; six grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, including many in Hungary.

A graveside service is planned for a later date.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com