Yaeko Patricia Popp, 84, of Mercer, Wis. died peacefully of natural causes at home on May 26, 2013 in her youngest daughter Mary’s arms.
She was born on Feb. 28, 1929 in Tokyo, Japan to Masaji and Chiyoji Oda.
She married Albert Popp in occupied Japan on Dec. 26, 1952.
After moving to America, they resided in Milwaukee and New Holstein, Wis. They then moved to Elberta. Following Albert’s death in 1998, Yaeko moved to Mercer, Wis.
Yaeko lived her life giving of herself to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and most of all to her beloved husband, Albert.
Using her expertise as an accomplished seamstress, she sewed her family’s beautiful clothing, embroidered altar vestments for priests, swimsuits for the Miss Wisconsin pageant, and was owner of Yaeko’s Needle in New Holstein, Wis.
She also was a perfectionist with her knitting skills and gardening. Her love of music was evident, as she would sit endlessly for hours knitting while her children would practice the violin, flute and piano.
She had the most beautiful voice and her singing and humming are still ringing in the memories of all who knew her.
She and Albert hosted nieces and nephews from Japan for visits and education in America.
She is greatly missed by her children, Carol (Richard) Weingarten, Travelers Rest, S.C., Karla (Michael) Lavin, Milwaukee, Wis., Albert (Tara Beechek) Popp, Las Vegas, Nev., Frank (Jill) Popp, New Holstein, Wis., Damien (Sue) Popp, Carmel, Ind., Louis Popp, Las Vegas, Nev., Nancy (Bill) Dalpiaz, Mercer, Wis., Bernadette Popp, Foley, Cynthia Popp, Atlanta, Ga., Michael Popp, Las Vegas, Nev., Francesco (Niese McLeod) Popp, Lillian and Mary Popp, Atlanta.
She is survived by her 17 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, Holly (Jason) O’Brien, Milwaukee, Wis. (Annabelle, Montgomery, Josephina), Michelle (Brian) Haensgen, Mount Calvary, Wis. (Karlie, Addison), Sarah (Ryan) Nielsen, Phoenix, Ariz. (Amaya, Madelyn), Brandon (Kelly) Popp, Fond du Lac, Wis., Jack Lavin, Milwaukee, Wis., Travis (Melissa) Boll, St. Nazianz, Wis. (Noah), Abbey (Tim) Fritschler, Milwaukee, Wis. (Otis), Charles Lavin, River Falls, Wis., Michael (Gina) Popp, Fond du Lac, Wis. (Conner, Parker), Henry (Shelley) McIntire, Athens, Ga., Corey Popp, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (Claire), Mallory McIntire, Elberta (Starling), Kyle Burgess, Rosholt, Wis. (Mason), Courtney Frisch, Jacksonville, Fla., Tyler Burgess, Las Vegas, Nev., Marc Popp, New Holstein, Wis. and Shelby Brown, Foley.
Also surviving are her brothers and sisters of Japan, Shozo (Emiko) Oda, Miyoko (Tamotsu) Ebisawa, Fujie (Kazutoshi) Miyamoto, Shigeru (Setsuko) Oda and Mitsue (Shigeo) Iwasaki.
Her in-laws include Monica (Richard) Houdek, Maximillan (Emma) Popp, Virginia (Jim) Kalchik, Mark (Lois) Popp, Mary Jo (Lou) Gundrum, Barbara Popp, Alice (Frank) Formolo and Jane (Dick) Goff; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Masakazu (Teruko) Oda, Morinobu Oda, Fumiko Oda and Ayako (Toshio) Oyama; and her in-laws, James and Theresa Popp and Thomas Popp.
Services will be held Monday, June 3, 2013. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lillian will host the visitation at 9 a.m. and Mass at 10 a.m., followed by graveside burial at 1:15 p.m. at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola. A 2 p.m. lunch will be served at St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church, Elberta.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Foundation, Milwaukee, WI or St. Benedict’s School, Elberta.
The family would like to thank Linda, Pam, Melody, Maria and Kristen for their years of loving care given to Mother. Thank you to Violet, Brittany, Jessica and Shannon of Aspirus Caring Caregivers and staff with Dr. Kate Hospice.
The family especially wishes to thank her daughter Nancy and Nancy’s husband, Bill Dalpiaz, for the loving care they gave Mother in her final and very happy years.
Thank you to Bolger’s Funeral Home, Minocqua, WI and Pine Rest Memorial Park Funeral Home, Foley, for assisting the family in their time of need.
