LaVern Poppe
LaVern Poppe passed away Sunday, April 23, 2023, peacefully at his home in Grant, Neb.
LaVern was born on December 24, 1932, at Julesburg, Colo., to Otto and Elva (Lipps) Poppe. He was the third of five children. He attended country school and then high school in Perkins County, graduating in 1950. He enlisted in the Air Force and served in the Korean War as a radio operator.
LaVern returned to Grant and married Pauline Boehmer on February 9, 1958. To this union were born five children, Maria, Leland, Rhonda, Brian, and Alan.
LaVern farmed with his brothers Orville and Lawrence and built houses with Fred Upright. In 1974 he gave up contracting and opened Poppe’s Tax Service. He continued farming with family and working taxes with his wife, Pauline, and daughter Maria.
LaVern loved gardening and connecting with people through social media and phone calls. He became the Poppe family coordinator after Pauline’s passing on his birthday on December 24, 2000. He continued the Christmas scrabble tradition and took pride in maintaining a tight family.
His social media skills (E-Harmony.com) introduced him to Wanda Eilert, and they were married on January 25, 2005, in the hospital waiting room in Wichita, Kan. With this union, he was blessed with the addition of 10 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren.
Wanda and LaVern enjoyed time in Newton, Kan., and Grant. Poppe’s Bed and Breakfast was founded in 2006, and the guests became part of LaVern’s circle of friends.
LaVern took pride in the building of the fellowship hall at Zion Lutheran Church. He was active in the Grant Lions Club and enjoyed taking part in the Veteran’s Day activities.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda; his children Maria Eichner (Kim) of Ogallala, Neb.; Leland Poppe (Cathy) of North Platte, Neb.; Rhonda Menghini (Todd) of Scottsbluff, Neb.; Brian Poppe (Kristen) of Falls City, Neb.; daughter-in-law Michele Poppe of Elkhorn, Neb.; 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
LaVern was preceded in death by his parents, wife Pauline, son Alan, grandchildren Jeremy and Megan, brothers Lawrence and Orville.
Memorials are suggested to Zion Lutheran Church in Grant or Western Sky CCC in LaVern’s memory. Condolences may be shared at bullocklongfuneralhome.com, where the services will be streamed live.
Funeral services will be held at Zion Lutheran Church on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery at Grant.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., at the Bullock-Long Funeral Home in Grant.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home of Grant is in charge of arrangements.