Joseph J. Popp

Joseph J. Popp, age 87, of Royalton, MN, passed away Monday, August 13, 2012 at the Lutheran Care Center in Little Falls, MN. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00am Saturday, August 18th at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Royalton, MN, with Fr. Laurn Virnig officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church on Saturday, August 18th two hours prior to the service. Joseph Jerome Popp was born on March 22, 1925, in Sauk Rapids, MN, the son of Jacob & Mary (Gottwalt) Popp. He grew up on a farm near Rice, MN. He attended school in Royalton. He also attended school to be a machinist but quickly changed his profession to masonry, under the tutelage of his Uncle Martin Gottwalt. He was united in marriage to Rosemary Heurung on August 6, 1951, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls, MN. They lived all but a few years of their married life in the red, brick house they built on the Platte River north of Royalton. Besides having a passion for his work (Joseph Popp Construction Company) and raising ten children, Joe also lived life to the fullest. That included hobby farming, fishing, deer hunting with his sons, gardening, picking agates with his wife, and building wood projects. Joe had a love for music and enjoyed the old time polka and waltz dances. He loved to sing and play the harmonica. He was life member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Royalton, Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local Union #1, Royalton Sportsmen Club, and served on the District 485 school board. He never turned down a good game of cards or a chocolate malt. Grateful for having shared his life are his children, Jerome (Barb) Popp of Willmar, Mary Popp (life partner Nancy Stacken) of Pine City, Daniel (Lori) Popp of St. Cloud, Barb (Terry) Christianson of Detroit Lakes, Patricia (Gary) Miller of Aitken, Mike (Bunny) Popp of Becker, Linda (Gene) Justen of Ackworth, Georgia, Brenda (Keith) Hackett of Rice, Judy (Shawn) Hackett of Rice, and David (Annette) Popp of Centerville; brother, Loren (Delores) Popp of Rice; 29 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren, and brother-in-law, Ray Schlichting of Rice. Joseph was preceded in death by his wife, Rosie (Feb 28, 1997); daughter, Annette Rose; great-granddaughter, Zowie Hatt; step-grandchildren, Daniel, Jonathan, and Chris; parents, Jacob & Mary; siblings, Virginia Burgraff, Marlys Schlichting, Eugene Popp, and Eileen Doucette.