Lester Popp

Lester William Popp, age 96, of Westside, IA, passed away on Thursday, January 28, 2016 at Hawkeye Care Center in Carroll. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, February 1, 2016 at Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia with Pastor Ben Dose officiating. Friends may call at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll after 4:00 P.M. on Sunday where there will be a prayer service held at 6:30 P.M. The casket will be moved to Zion Lutheran Church at 9:00 A.M. on Monday where visitation will resume until the time of service. Organist for the service will be Rebecca Dose and the congregation will sing. Casket bearers will be Lester’s grandsons- Ryan Brotherson, Matthew Brotherson, Harrison Popp, Elijah Popp, Joshua Blazek, and Brett Lyszak. Burial will be in the Arcadia Cemetery with military honors by the Arcadia American Legion. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com Lester was born on his family’s farm near Westside on January 20, 1920, and he was the son of William and Bertha (Schulter) Popp. When he was one month old, his family moved to a farm near Maple River where he grew up. He went to country school as a boy and graduated from the 8th grade. Lester was baptized and confirmed at the Lutheran parsonage in Arcadia on June 9, 1946 by Rev. Theo Tews. He was a lifelong member of Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia. Lester served in the US Army during World World II from 1942-1945 as communication specialist with the 534th Battery B Anti-aircraft Battalion. He saw action in Northern Africa, Italy and France. Upon his return home from the war, Lester worked for the REC for a short time. He then worked for H.F. Schroeder Construction Company of Carroll for 37 years as a bull dozer operator and foreman. In his later years Lester worked for Pittman Construction of Wall Lake for nine years before retiring. Lester married Mae Peters on November 24, 1946 at Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia. That union was blessed with four children – Brenda, Susanne, Lorene and Brian. The couple made their home in Arcadia where they raised their family. Mae passed away in June of 1987. Lester enjoyed his family and especially his grandchildren. He loved to go fishing and play cards. Lester was very active in his church and community. He served on the Arcadia City Council for eight years. He then became Mayor of Arcadia from 1988-1992. He held various offices at Zion Lutheran Church including Trustee, Elder, Treasurer and President. He also held offices and was active in the Lutheran Laymen’s League. Lester and Gloria (Boldt) Lenz were united in marriage on May 9, 1992 at Zion Lutheran Church in Arcadia. They resided in Westside until Lester’s health deteriorated and he moved to Hawkeye Care Center on May 1, 2015. Survivors include his wife Gloria Popp of Westside; three daughters – Brenda (Quentin) Hartman of Alpena, MI, Susanne Brotherson of Carroll, and Lorene (Steve) Blazek of Denton, TX; a son Brian (Terry) Popp of Omaha, nine grandchildren – Ericka (Tim Benson) of Lexington, MA, Brett Lyszak of Chapel Hill, NC, Ryan (Mary Beth) Brotherson of Olathe, KS, Matthew (Kodi) Brotherson of Breda, IA, Magan (Michael) Lindsey of Gulfport, MS, Joshua (Courtney) Blazek of Boyce, LA, Christina (Coy) Powell of Galena, KS, and Harrison and Elijah Popp of Omaha, NE; eight great grandchildren – Micah and Daniel Benson, Carolyn, Nathan, Lily and William Brotherson, Michael Lindsey and Abby Blazek. Lester is also survived by Gloria’s children and families: Jean (James) Koenck of Auburn, CA, Dale (Nicki) Lenz of Vail, IA, Lori (Stan) Musfeldt of Manning, Cheryl (Paul) Clayton of Castle Rock, CO, and Gary (Shelli) Lenz of Vail, IA; a sister-in-law Iva Harmening of Carroll; and several nieces, nephews and many good friends. Lester was preceded in death by his parents William and Bertha Popp; his wife Mae Popp; two sons-in-law, Michael Lyszak and Curtis Brotherson; two brothers, Vernon (Fern) Popp and Leonard (Mavis) Popp; three sisters, Helen (Leslie) Sieve, Evelyn (Elmer) Schroeder and Arlene (Edward) Holstein.