Laura Jean Popp, 93, passed away January 4, 2021, at Ascension Via Christi St. Teresa Hospital, Wichita. She was born July 1, 1927, on a farm near Buhler, to Heinrich ‘Henry’ Garfield Koehn and Elisabeth Marie (Esau) Koehn. Following her father’s death, she moved with her mother and four siblings into a home built by her uncle in the town of Buhler.
Laura was a 1945 graduate of Buhler High School, and received a Bachelor of Liberal Arts Degree from Wichita State University, at the age of 60, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Although she lost her father at age three, Laura followed his profession in education as a speech therapy assistant in the Haven School system, and as an instructor in the GED program at Hutchinson Community College. Especially dear to her heart was teaching English as a Second Language. Laura had a lifelong passion for music, playing saxophone in a community band, and oboe and bassoon in orchestra in her early years. Throughout her lifetime, she was a pianist, church organist, and symphony supporter as a member of the Women’s Association of the Wichita Symphony. Laura was a member of the Reno County Democratic Women’s Club, and a long-time member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hutchinson.
On July 1, 1945, she married Eugene ‘Gene’ Russell Popp. They raised their four children on the family farm near Haven, and shared over 60 years of marriage, prior to his death on May 9, 2006.
Laura is survived by: her children, Gary Eugene Popp of Hutchinson, Debra (John) DeNicola of New York City, NY, and Pamela (Tom Lynn) Schaffer of Wichita; daughter-in-law, Rennie Popp of Austin, TX; grandchildren, Jake DeNicola, Vanessa Canova, Jessica Schaffer, and Stefanie Worrell; and great-grandson, Harlan Canova.
She was preceded in death by: her parents; husband; and son, Larry Allan Popp.
Private graveside service will be Wednesday, January 13, 2021, at Laurel Cemetery, rural Haven, with Pastor Henry Blickhahn officiating.
Friends may call (the family will not be present), from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, January 12, 2021, and 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 13, 2021, at Elliott Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Cancer Council of Reno County, or the Wichita Symphony, in care of Elliott Mortuary and Crematory, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.
