Popken, Otto J 1889-1958

POPKEN, SCHWARTING, SOMMERVOLD, ROHLFS, SWANSON, JOHNSON, VANDERHAMM, BUCHRE, MOLZEN

Posted By: Janet Schuldt, Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/30/2010 at 08:13:30

Hawarden Independent, Hawarden, Sioux, Iowa, USA Thursday, January 23, 1958

Otto J. Popken Dies at Hospital In Sioux City

Funeral services for Otto J. F. Popken, almost 69 years of age, were held at Trinity Lutheran church Saturday afternoon with Rev. O. F. Pittack in charge. Committal was in Riverside cemetery of Akron with the Barnard Funeral home in charge.

Otto John Frederick Popken was born to Hinrich Popken and wife, Friedericke Christine, near Jever, Oldenburg, Germany, on January 23. 1889, and spent his entire childhood and youth in Germany.

At the ago of 23 he immigrated recently to the United States and arrived at Le Mars, Iowa, in April of 1912. A year later, on April 4, 1913, he was married to Emma A Schwarting by Rev. Volhnar, Lutheran pastor in Le Mars. During the next 25 years he was engaged in farming on a number of farms east of Akron, all in Plymouth county. On March 1, 1948, he retired and moved into his home on Avenue F in this city and in 1950 he transferred his membership from Immanuel Lutheran church of Akron to the local congregation.

He served his local congregation as a recorder of vital information and statistics, and his community and city he served as the caretaker of the city park for a number of years and retired from this occupation in 1955 on account of his health.

In 1953 he returned to Germany to join his confirmation class the golden anniversary of their confirmation. From May 6 to August 17, 1957, he went to Germany again, this time to conduct a tour of visitors from America.

For a number of years he was failing in health. On Labor Day 1955, he suffered a heart attack and was taken to the local hospital for recovery. Last December he submitted to an operation in a hospital in Sioux City. On Wednesday. January 15, he returned to this hospital for a checkup. Shortly after he had gone to his assigned room be was stricken with a heart attack to which he succumbed.

He was preceded in death by his wife on February 28, 1951, his parents and one brother.

Surviving are a son, William of Akron; three daughters. Mrs. Gertrude Sommervold and Mrs. Lenora Rohlfs, both of Akron, and Mrs. Ella Swanson of Sioux City; eight grandchildren; one brother, Fred of Akron; six sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, Mrs. Marie Vander Hamm and Mrs. Herbert Buchre, all of Akron, and Mrs. Frieda Popken, Mrs. Martha Molzen and Miss Anna Popken, all of Le Mars.