This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Residents of Farr West, a rural community in western Weber County, are mourning the passing of Jimmie Papageorge, who spent 19 years as the city's mayor.

Papageorge, a dairy farmer by profession, helped Farr West incorporate in 1980 and served on several boards, including the Bona Vista Water Improvement District, the Western Irrigation Company Board, the Ogden River Water Users Association Board and the Weber County Blue Ribbon Committee, which acquired the county's new fairgrounds.

"I'll miss a number of things about him," said Assistant Mayor and City Councilman Timothy Shupe, noting Papageorge's constant desire to be of service.

"He had a big heart and also a great knowledge of the city, the land and the infrastructure," Shupe said, "all those things that are vital to development and progress in the city."

Papageorge helped to establish the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church in South Ogden and served on its board since 1964. Many of those years, Papageorge was president and spearheaded the church's annual September festival that attracts thousands of fans of Greek cuisine.

His death Sunday was unexpected, Shupe said, although Papageorge had been ill on and off for several months after undergoing heart surgery.

"He's the hardest worker I've ever been around. And when he does something, it's done right," said Dale Chugg, Papageorge's neighbor, friend and colleague for eight decades.

"Whenever anyone had a problem, they'd call Jimmy because they knew he could take care of it," Chugg added. "He felt responsible for everything that went on in the city."

Papageorge leaves behind his wife Kay, children Alex (Lori) Papageorge and Christina (Bob) Spronk, grandchildren Nicole and Robbie Spronk, step-grandsons Cody Freston and Joel (Martha) Freston, a brother Harry Papageorge and sisters Mary Kogianes and Florence Blosser.

The viewing will be held Wednesday, 5 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist's Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd., and Father Mario Giannopoulos of Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church will officiate a Trisagion service at 7 p.m. that evening.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday, at the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 674 42nd St., South Ogden. Internment will follow at the Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd., South Ogden.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church.

Twitter: @catmck —

Jimmie Papageorge

Nov. 15, 1928 - Oct. 21, 2012