POPENHAGEN, Russell J. 1930-2007

POPENHAGEN, WARD, LOCKWOOD, HULBERT, SEIDEL, KLEINLEIN, BOCKHOLT, SCHAFER, BARTELS

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 1/20/2018 at 17:29:24

SOURCE: BECKER-MILNES FUNERAL BROCHURE
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Friend of family)

Funeral services for Russell J. Popenhagen were held on Thursday, February 8, 2007 at the Becker-Milnes Funeral Chapel in Fayette, Iowa. Interment was at the St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Wadena, Iowa. Rev. John Purtell officiated with J'Andrea Gibney as organist who accompanied the soloist, Larry Popenhagen. Honorary casket bearers were Lavern and Connie Schaefers with his sons and sons-in-law as casket bearers.

Russell J. Popenhagen, son of Joy and Fern (Ward) Popenhagen, was born April 19, 1930 at Wadena, Iowa. He attended country schools in the Wadena and Lima areas, graduating from Fayette High School with the class of 1947. On September 16, 1950, he was united in marriage with Francis Lockwood at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Fayette. Russell was baptized as an adult at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa in February of 2005.

Russ farmed for 24 years in the Wadena area. In 1974, he moved into town in Wadena where he owned a feed business for 18 years prior to retiring in 1993. Following a lengthy illness, his death occurred on Sunday, February 4, 2007 at Palmer Lutheran Health Center in West Union, Iowa. He was 76 years old and had been a member of the Volga Valley Conservation Club and Wadena Businessmen's Club.

He enjoyed time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He also loved playing his guitars and entertaining at various area functions, quite frequently at Maple Crest Manor Care Center in Fayette, where he entertained for many years. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting, woodworking, visiting with friends, and telling stories.

In addition to his wife Frances of Wadena, he is survived by four sons, Jim (Kathy) Popenhagen of Cresco, Iowa, Denny (Cerese) Popenhagen of Des Moines, Iowa, Ken (LeAnn) Popenhagen of Elgin, Iowa and Craig (Kelli) Popenhagen of Champlin, Minnesota; two daughters, Kathy (Terry) Hulbert of McGregor, Iowa and Jean (Randy) Seidel of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin; ten grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; one brother, Harold (Leone) Popenhagen of Wadena; and three sisters, Shirley (Norman) Kleinlein of Wadena, Mabel (Bud Schafer) Bockholt of Oran, Iowa, and Dora (Jerry) Bartels of Stanhope, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by infant triplet daughters, Cynthia, Catherine, and Carolyn; one great grandson, Lucas Popenhagen; and his parents.