LEXINGTON – Robert Keith Poppe, 82, Lexington, died at 3:31pm Thursday, September 15, 2016 at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal.
Bob was born March 6, 1934 in Lawndale Twp., IL the son of Chris and Adelheid Merhkens Poppe. He first married Barbara A. Flanders. He then married Leona I. Kruse on December 3, 1983. She survives in Lexington.
Other survivors include his children, Kevin (Dawn) Poppe, Lexington, Kurt (Katie) Poppe, Hudson, Kris Poppe, Plainfield, Keith Poppe, Rantoul, Donald (Adrienne) Boswell, El Paso, Bryan (Dee Dee Allen) Boswell, Kappa, eight grandchildren, Elizabeth McCuen, Christine (Eric) Hodges, Krista, Maeley, Sydney and Daniel Poppe, Jayme (Jeff) Zehr, Jenna (Matt) Vissering; and four great grandchildren, Joan and Charlie McCuen, Abygail and Owen Zehr.
He is preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Renee Poppe and a sister, Ella Louise Poppe.
Bob was a 1952 graduate of Lexington High School. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He was a lifetime farmer who owned and operated Poppe’s Service; Lawndale Enterprises; and Tri County Tax, El Paso.
He was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lexington, Chenoa VFW, McLean County Farm Bureau, he was a Golden Clover award recipient at the McLean County Fair and the first recipient from Lexington to receive the American Farmer Degree in 1954.
Cremation rites have been accorded and a memorial service will be scheduled at a later date per his wishes. Inurnment will be in Chenoa Twp. Cemetery. The family suggests memorials be given to the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lexington. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Chenoa is in charge of arrangements.
The family would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Gomez and staff at the Illinois Cancer Center. Dr. Fernandez and staff at the Community Cancer Center. Advocate BroMenn Hospice Services 5th floor nurses and techs and Dr. Samuel Steffen at Advocate Medical Center, Lexington.
Bob is at peace in heaven with the Lord after battling cancer since 2004.
An online guest registry is available at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.