Jean E. Popken
September 6, 1936 - March 21, 2025
Jean E. Popken, age 88, of Scribner
Died Friday, March 21, 2025 at St. Joseph's Hillside Villa in West Point
Jean was born September 6, 1936 in West Point to Benno and Sylvia 'Toelle' Michaelis. She was raised on a farm near West Point and graduated from Guardian Angels High School in West Point in 1955. After high school she worked at a bank in West Point before going to banking school in Omaha. She then worked at a bank in Fremont until she married Duane Popken on May 23, 1959 at St. John's Ridgeley Lutheran Church, rural Scribner. After their marriage they lived on Duane's family farm southwest of Scribner and raised their family. Duane died on March 7, 1985. She continued farming for a few years with her son Brian. Jean then took several jobs outside of the home. She drove a tractor and helped build the Scribner dike, worked at Hy-Vee in Fremont, Scribner Express and the Hooper Care Center. Being a sports enthusiast she could always be seen at her grandchildren's sporting events and following Husker sports. She enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, planting flowers and caring for her lawn. She was well known for her baking, especially her famous cinnamon rolls. She greeted everyone with a smile, including strangers and was usually followed by a hug.
In September of 2017 she moved to the St. Joseph Retirement Community then in December of 2023 into the St. Joseph Hillside Villa.
Survivors:
Daughters - Cheryl (Jim) Pribnow of Scribner
Cindy (Alan) Settles of Scribner
Son - Brian (Cindy) Popken of Scribner
9 grandchildren
24 great grandchildren
1 great great grandchild
Sister - Ruth Nagengast of West Point
Brother - Dennis (Linda) Michaelis of Salem, Oregon
Sisters-in-law - Ione Popken of Fremont
Sharon Michaelis of Dodge
many nieces and nephews
Jean was preceded in death by her husband Duane, sister Arlene French, brothers Bob, Jim and Kenneth Michaelis.
Funeral Mass will be 10am, Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Scribner. Burial will follow in the Scribner Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the St. Joseph Retirement Community or St. Lawrence Catholic Church. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4-7pm with the family present from 5-7pm. A wake service will be at 7pm. Ludvigsen's Scribner Funeral Chapel in Charge of arrangements.
Online guestbook at www.hooper-scribner.com
Obituary Provided By:
1249 E. 23rd St.
Fremont, NE 68025
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