Nelvina Popkes

Sibley, Iowa

     Nelvina Popkes age 67 of Sibley, Iowa passed away peacefully, Sunday, June 21,2020 at her home surrounded by family.

     Memorial services will be 3:00 PM, Saturday, June 27, 2020 at First Presbyterian Church in Sibley, Iowa with Reverend Terry Simm, officiating. 

     Visitation will be Saturday, June 27th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM with the family present at the First Presbyterian Church of Sibley.  Social distancing guidelines will be in place for both the visitation and the memorial service.

     Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley is in charge of arrangements.

     Nelvina Faye Popkes was born on June 18, 1953 in rural Sanborn, Iowa, the daughter of Herman and Marie (Riemersma) Buren.  She attended Sanborn High School and graduated in 1972.

     On July 7, 1972 she was united in marriage to Dean Lynn Popkes in Sanborn, Iowa.  During their marriage, they had two daughters, three grandchildren, one great grandchild, and two more on the way.  She really enjoyed spending time and visiting with family as well as horse-playing with her grandchildren.  She also enjoyed spending time outside in the yard and going for walks.  She looked forward to her great grandchildren arriving into the world so she could babysit and spoil.  She enjoyed attending school events and activities that the grandchildren participated in.  She was always very encouraging and motivated her family into doing things they may not feel comfortable doing.  She will be remembered for her contagious laugh and fun, loving, witty personality.  She was easy to talk to and very understanding.  She could make everyone talk whether they wanted to or not. 

     Nelvina worked at Sibley Nursing and Rehab for 14 years.  She then worked at Hood Packaging (Exopack) for 28 ½ years.  She retired on June 13, 2019.  After retiring, she and Dean planned on traveling and visiting relatives they had not seen in years.

     She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.  She enjoyed attending church activities and helping with them.  She and Dean enjoyed and ran the Summer Food Program, feeding children during the summer.  She was also on several committees in the church.  She was on the Relay For Life county committee and the church Relay For Life Team for many years.

     After a courageous battle with cancer for 18 years, her chronic lymphocytic leukemia turned into a very aggressive lymphoma.

     Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of almost 48 years, Dean Popkes; two daughters, Shannon (Michael) Anderson of Sibley, IA, Michele (Darin) Honkomp of Sheldon, IA; grandchildren, Nicole Rozeboom, Austin Honkomp, Karly Honkomp, and step granddaughter, Courtney Anderson; two great grandbabies on the way; brother, Rodney (Cheryl) Buren of Sanborn, IA; sister, Bev (Jerry) Kreykes of Sheldon, IA; brothers-in-law, Dennis (Linda) Popkes of Sheldon, IA, David (Ruth) Popkes of Sheldon, IA,  Randy (Teresa) Popkes of George, IA; and many other family and friends who will miss her greatly.

     She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Marie Buren; and great grandson, Giovanni Leandro Aguilar.