Nancy Popke

POPKE, Nancy
Kalamazoo Nancy passed away Monday, July 16, 2007. She was born July 3, 1941 in Youngstown, Ohio, the daughter of Herman and Clarissa Vander Veen Gruizenga. She moved to Kalamazoo as a young girl and resided in the Kalamazoo area for over 50 years. She met her husband, Emil ?Bud? Popke while employed by WKMI Radio and the two were married at St. Luke?s Episcopal Church on May 22, 1964. Nancy later worked as the Executive Secretary to the Director of Trade Relations at the Upjohn Company and served as Accountant and Manager for E.J. Popke and Associates. She was active in the lives of her two children and participated in the activities of several local charities including the Portage Kiwanis Club, St. Martin of Tours Episcopal Church and Loaves and Fishes. She is survived by her husband of 43 years; her 2 sons, E. Jon Popke of Kalamazoo and E. Jeffery Popke of Greenville, NC; her half-brother, Stanley Earl and his wife, Janet; her sister-in-law, Carol Gruizenga; 2 step-children, Bruce Popke, of Ft. Lauderdale Florida and Donna Popke, of Sutton?s Bay, MI; as well as several nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held at 8:00 pm, on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 in the Langeland Family Funeral Homes Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th Street, with Rev. Mary E. Perrin officiating. The Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. www.langelands.com 343-1508. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer?s Association in Nancy?s honor.