Alvin Fredrick William Poppe was born at
Byron
,
NE
on February 13, 1930, to Fredrick and Emma (Peters) Poppe. He was baptized into the Christian faith on March 2, 1930 at St Peter Lutheran Church, Byron. The family moved to the
Chester
area when
Alvin
was a first grader at which time he became a member of
St. John
Lutheran
Church
,
Chester
, NE. Alvin was confirmed in the Christian faith at
St. John
on May 2, 1943.
Alvin
served in the United States Army from May of 1951, until being honorably discharged on January 31, of 1953. During that time he served his country in the Korean Conflict.
Alvin
was united in holy marriage to Betty Vorderstrasse on December 11, 1955 at
St. John
Lutheran
Church
,
Chester
. God blessed this union with three children, Daniel, Steven, and Ruth.
Alvin
farmed throughout his life. He was an active member of
St. John
Lutheran
Church
where he taught Bible class and Sunday school, served on a number of boards, and held several offices. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He loved his family and enjoyed visiting with his neighbors.
Alvin
departed this life at the age of 81 years on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at Parkview Haven in
Deshler
,
Nebraska
with his family by his side. He was preceded in death by his sister, Luella Kapperman; his son-in-law, Dave Rauert; and his grandson, Opie Rauert. He is survived by his beloved wife, Betty, of Chester; his children, a daughter-in-law and a son-in-law, Daniel Poppe of Chester, Steven and Cindy Poppe of Chester, and Ruth and Russell Gibbs of Grand Island, NE; his brothers and their wives, Norman and LaVila Poppe of Chester and Willis and Helen Poppe of Olsburg, KS; his sisters, Bernice Dutton of Chester and Leora Grafelmann of Omaha, NE; his grandchildren, Shawna and Kyle Bowers, Nathan Poppe, Rachael Rauert, and Benjamin Rauert; and many other relatives and friends. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord. We give thanks to God our Father through Jesus Christ, our Lord, for our brother Alvin.
Funeral services were held Saturday, February 26, 2011 at
St. John
Lutheran
Church
in
Chester
,
Nebraska
with the Reverend Richard Gudgel officiating. Burial was in
St. Johns
Lutheran
Cemetery
rural
Chester
with Military Honors conducted by Fort Riley Honor Guard. Memorials were suggested to the
St. John
Cemetery
fund. Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home,
Belleville
,
Kansas
was in charge of these arrangements.
