Elgin Pape passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on the morning of August 18, 2025. Elgin was born in San Antonio, Texas on May 2, 1926, to Alvin and Annie (Eichmann) Pape.

He grew up on the family farm and ranch on Nacogdoches Rd. in San Antonio, Tx. Growing up as a boy Elgin worked on the farm, set pins at the Oak Grove bowling alley, and worked at the Oak Grove feed store. He attended Salado Valley Elementary School and graduated with honors from Alamo Heights High School in 1943.

Elgin was drafted into the army in 1944. He served in the Philippines and Japan in WWII. He served in the military police in Japan. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and returned home where he resumed farming and ranching on the family property.

In 1947 he started Pape Construction Co. He built custom homes, did remodeling, additions, commercial buildings, etc. in the construction business. The construction company was and is truly a family run business. Over the years his father, brother, wife, brothers-in-law, nephews, uncles, cousins, son, daughters, daughter-in-law, grandson, and granddaughters all were a part of the company. The family still runs the business to this day. Elgin retired from Pape Construction Co. in 1989.

He married the love of his life, Shirley Ann (Kunz) Pape on January 19, 195l. Shirley & Elgin were inseparable until her death in 2010. They had three children, Donna, Doug, and Diane.

Elgin and Shirley continued to work with the construction business as well as other business endeavors which included the Oak Grove Store, Oak Grove Lumber, Oak Grove Residential Subdivision, Pape Industrial Park, Pig Stand Restaurants, as well as a number of commercial lease properties. He also acquired his real estate brokers license in 1955 and continued to be active in real estate up until his death.

Elgin and Shirley acquired ranching property in 1964 in the Gillespie County area where Shirley was born and raised. They continued with other endeavors as well as ranching. Over the years they acquired additional property in Gillespie and Menard counties.

Elgin was a member of the Gillespie County Farm Service Agency, as well as a board member, vice president and president of the Gillespie County Farm Bureau for over twenty years. Through his German heritage and the upbringing of his parents he had an extremely strong work ethic, and it never changed in his 99 years of life.

Elgin enjoyed baseball, hunting, fishing, and bowling. As a young man he was one of the top ten bowlers in the San Antonio area. He was truly a family man, devoting his time and effort for the family and showing through the way he lived his life what family is. He will be missed but never forgotten.

Elgin was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Ann Kunz Pape, daughter Donna Ann Pape Schneider, and brother Harold Pape, and numerous sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

He is survived by his son Doug Pape and wife Denise, daughter Diane Pape Wetz and husband Steve Wetz and son-in-law O.W. Schneider. Grandchildren: William Schneider and wife Erica, Wesley Schneider and wife Candace, Katelin Pape Connolly and husband Corey, Sarah Pape Herrin and husband Zane, Kelby Pape and wife Natalie, Crystal Wetz Beckmann and husband Christopher. Great grandchildren: Addison and Sterling Schneider, Emily and Garret Connolly, Skylar and Colter Pape and Callum Beckmann.

Pallbearers are William Schneider, Wesley Schneider, Kelby Pape, Corey Connolly, Zane Herrin, and Christopher Beckmann. Honorary pallbearers are Rodney Tatsch, Hollis Walker, Ken Pape, and Warren Pape.

Visitation with the family will be held on Monday, August 25, 2025, from 5pm to 8 pm at the Pape Event Center at the Gillespie County Farm Bureau. Fredericksburg, Texas. The funeral service will be held Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 10:00 am at the Harper Community Park Hall, Harper, Texas. Burial to follow at the Pape Ranch Cemetery.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the wonderful caregivers and hospice nurses who helped care for Elgin.

Memorials may be made to the Harper VFD or Harper EMS.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at masonfuneralhome.net