Cornelius "Neal" John Popelka (1926-2014)
POPELKA, KARNER, COMPTON, MILLER, BUTTZ, GINGERICH, THORNE, NOWLIN
Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 12/28/2014 at 15:43:18
Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.
Cornelius "Neal" John Popelka was born June 7, 1926 to Emil and Anna (Karner) Popelka in Buffalo, North Dakota. He served in the United States Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater. Neal was very proud of his service to our Country.
Neal’s career was the insurance business and was co-owner of McDowells Insurance Agency for many years. All his friends called him “Pope”. He was a member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Ames, the Ames American Legion, VFW, and the Ames Elks Club and past member of Ames Golf and Country Club and Cyclone Club. Neal enjoyed the water, especially fishing, and his time with his house boat on the Mississippi. He also enjoyed working with his hands by doing many remodeling projects on his homes. Neal acquired a private pilot’s license and flew locally for many years, just for fun.
Neal passed away at 88 years of age on December 22, 2014 at Community Life Center at the VA in Des Moines.
Neal is survived by his second wife, Karen Compton Popelka, of Ames; his twin brother, Gerry Popelka, of Allyn, Washington; his children, Dave (Mary) Popelka, of Urbandale and his son, Nick, John (Sabi) Popelka, of Ames, and their daughters, Trisha (Brett) Miller and Megan (Matt) Buttz, Diane (Lyle) Gingerich, of Johnston and their sons, Dustin (Alisa) Gingerich, Stefan (Stephanie) Gingerich and Travis (Lisa) Gingerich, Janet (Dale) Thorne, of Hanover, Michigan and their sons, Luke (Amanda) Thorne and Cody (Robin) Thorne, and step-children, Tracy Nowlin, of Ames and her daughter, Payton Rose, Robert (Bobby) Nowlin, of Tucson, Arizona and Tad (Tami) Nowlin, of Peoria, Arizona and their children, Taylor, Tatum and Tori; and eleven great-grandchildren. Neal’s grandchildren were the light of his life. They will dearly miss him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife and mother of their children, Elizabeth "Betty" Popelka; his brothers, Raymond Popelka and Bernerd Popelka; and his great-grandson, TJ Gingerich.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.
DEC 29 A Mass of Christian Burial 11:00AM
St. Cecilia Catholic Church
2900 Hoover Ave.
Ames, IA, US, 50010DEC 29 Graveside Service 12:00PM
Ames Municipal Cemetery
310 E 9th St.
Ames, IA, US
http://www.adamssoderstrum.com/
Story Obituaries maintained by Mark Christian.
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