George Herman Poppre

George Poppre, 85, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 15, 2009 in Troy, Missouri where he was living with his daughter Mary and her family. George moved to Missouri three years ago after living 21 years in Cornville, AZ, where he retired with his wife of 47 years, Jane Nolan Poppre. George was born in 1923 in West Orange, New Jersey, the son of German immigrants Charles Herman Poppre and Johanna Praml. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII as a machinist mate and was active in the taking of Guam in the South Pacific. After the war, he worked for the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company for over 35 years. Starting as a field repairman, he worked in various skilled and management positions ultimately retiring his career at the Tom's River Test Bureau in Tom's River, New Jersey. George and Jane were early residents of Shark River Hills in Neptune, NJ and were active at Holy Innocents parish. It was always his dream to retire in sunny Arizona and the couple moved to Cornville in 1985. George was an avid golfer and a member of the old Verde Valley Country Club in Clarkdale. He and his wife enjoyed camping in Arizona high country and exploring their new home. George was loved for his great sense of humor, curiosity, warm personality and kind hearted nature. He is preceded in death by his wife Jane Nolan Poppre and his grandson Michael Yarrington. He is survived by his four children Kathy (Fred) Porter of Neptune, NJ, Nora (Peter) Sykes of Overland Park, KS, Mary (the late Garry) Billman of Troy, MO and Michael (Beth) Poppre. George is also survived by his ten grandchildren, Richard, Maggie, Sarah and Matt Porter; Nick, Erin and Dan Billman and Dan, Kevin and Lauren Sykes.