Robert John Aprato

Robert John Aprato, Jr. December 6, 1977 - December 24, 2016 Robert was born December 6, 1977, in Grants Pass, Oregon. He graduated in 1996 from Kent-Meridian High School in Kent, Washington. Robert was in the ROTC all four years of high school, joining the Army Reserves in his junior year and then regular Army after graduation. In the years following, Robert became committed to healthier living and met his wife, Leanne, at a Liv International event in Pocatello, Idaho in 2013. They were married September 28, 2014. Robert loved truck driving and traveled extensively before they came to Republic to be closer to Leanne's father, who was having health issues. Sadly, Leanne's father passed in August of 2016, but Leanne and Robert had fallen in love with the Republic area and decided to stay. Robert took a truck driving job with Giddings Excavation who was contracted to ACI and hauled ore from the Buckhorn Mine. They were happy here in Republic and Robert was taking steps to join the local volunteer fire department. Robert was registered at the age of 19 to be an organ donor and often communicated to Leanne about how important that was to him. On December 21, 2016, Robert was in a serious accident while hauling ore from the mine. He was airlifted to Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee with a serious head trauma. He passed quietly on Christmas Eve in the company of his wife and family. Robert's wish to help others was granted. On Christmas 2016, two families received their Christmas miracle as Robert was able to gift them live-saving organs for their loved ones in need. There will be multiple others whose lives will be enhanced by additional gifts including the gift of sight by his donations. Robert was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, his cousin Misty, Uncle John, and Leanne's parents. He is survived by his wife, Leanne Marie Smith Aprato; his father and mother, Robert Aprato, Sr., and Wendy Aprato, both of Kent; his sister, Jeanette Aprato of Seattle, and his stepchildren whom he loved as his own, Shantel of Klamath Falls, Oregon, Paul of Huntington Beach, California and Rachelle of South Jordon, Utah. A memorial service will be held January 28, 2016 at 11:00 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Republic. A luncheon will be served after the memorial. A private gathering by invitation only will follow the memorial. In keeping with Robert's desire to help others and save lives, memorials may be made in his name to the Republic Volunteer Fire Department and Ferry County Search and Rescue.