Kenneth Charles Poppe

Born June 23, 1937 to Virginia and Raymond Poppe. His father died when he was only 6 months old.

Ken graduated from Appleton High School in 1955.  He married the love of his life, Dorothy Bartels Poppe, on December 21, 1957.

He joined the United States Marine Corps Air Wing in 1957 and was stationed in Beaufort, South Carolina. After his service, he returned to Appleton where he worked as an IBEW electrician for the remainder of his career. He retired to Arizona in 1996.

As a youth he liked to play softball, ride his bike, and ice skate. Ken developed a love of woodworking at Appleton High School’s wood shop. He used these skills to make many different things over the years and crafted beautiful, segmented wood bowls and items during his years in retirement.

He shared a love for polka dancing and music with his wife Dorothy. Together they organized a successful polka fest which ran for over 20 years as a fund raiser for Altrusa of Appleton.

Among Ken’s other passions were building and flying RC model airplanes, boating, and playing concertina.  

Ken was baptized at Mount Olive Lutheran in Appleton in 1937 and has been a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod his whole life. The family is comforted in knowing that he is at peace in the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Kenneth is survived by his wife Dorothy, and two sons: Charles “Chuck” Poppe and partner Steve Sells from Denver, Colorado; Scott Poppe and his wife Nancy, Grandson Johnathon and Granddaughter Stacy from Phoenix, Arizona.

Services to be held Saturday, 1/18/2025 at King of Kings Lutheran Church, 812 N. Meridian Road, Apache Junction, AZ, 85120

Visitation 10:00am, Service 11:00am, Reception 12:00pm

Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.