Popken, Esther A. 1906-2002

POPKEN, MARIENAU, BRAACKS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/22/2009 at 13:15:15

AKRON, Iowa -- Esther A. Popken, 96, of Akron died Thursday, Sept. 26, 2002, at the Akron City Convalescent Center.

Services will be 1:30 p.m. Monday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Akron, with the Rev. Curtis Matson officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Akron. Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at Schroeder Funeral Home in Akron.

Esther was born April 25, 1906 on a farm near Ireton, Iowa to William and Verdena (Braacks) Marienau. She was baptized at Ireton and confirmed into the Lutheran faith at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Truman, Minn. She attended St. Paul's Lutheran Grade School.

She married John C. Popken on Nov. 25, 1925 in Sioux City. The couple farmed all their married life in the Akron area, retiring to Akron in 1967. Her husband died May 9, 1981. She lived her early years in Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota. Before her marriage, she worked as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell in Ireton.

She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and ELCA in Akron. Esther loved spending time with family and friends. Her grandchildren loved her. She was always ready to serve coffee and lunch to her company. She enjoyed working in her home, baking, tending flower gardens, fishing and dancing.

Survivors include a daughter, Ramona, and her husband, Allen Vander Helm, of Akron; two grandchildren, James Vander Helm and Kerry and her husband, David Heeren, of Akron; four great-grandchildren, James L. Vander Helm, Nathan Vander Helm, Crystal Heeren and Desiree Heeren, all of Akron; a sister, Wilma Larson of Amboy, Minn.; and several nieces and nephews. She was grateful for special friend, Reinold Witt.

She was preceded in death by her husband; six brothers, Henry, Walter, Otto, Alvin, Carl and Paul Marienau and five sisters, Karoline Gronemeyer, Ann Wohlrabe, Mabel Rienke, Viola Weyen and Leona Ludwigs.

Pallbearers will be James Vander Helm, Kerry Heeren, David Heeren, James L. Vander Helm, Nathan Vander Helm, Crystal Heeren and Desiree Heeren.

The organist will be Carol Harris. Soloist Jon Harris will sing "Abide with Me" and "In the Garden." Congregational music selections will be "Amazing Grace," "Precious Lord Take My Hand" and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."

Lunch will be served at the church following the committal service at the cemetery.

~Source:The Sioux City Journal, part of the Darrell E. Obituary Collection