My Uncle George Popp (September 1, 1929-December 1, 2020) was buried on December 10, 2020. This fuchsia colored rose was part of his funeral arrangement.
Memories of Uncle George is of a very tall man who did a lot of outdoors things (hunting, fishing, gardening, woodworking). He introduced me to snapping turtle soup. We tended to catch a lot of snapping turtles in the creek running through our backyard at my childhood home. In August of this year I saw some snapping turtles near my watermelon garden. It was the first time in decades I had seen this type of turtle out of water.
We had a family retreat on the Little Blue River in Crawford County, Indiana. He was able to catch a spoon bill catfish (American paddlefish or Polyodon spathula) there. The only one I have seen in person.
He worked and retired from the Armour Star meat packing company. Another childhood memory was when our families bought a slaughtered hog and the process of butchering it. It is my only experience of being up close to when pork sausage was made and day still is with me.
Aunt Mary Jean and Uncle George's house was only 2 miles from our home. I would cycle there from time to time. Also after I returned to Indiana after college, several times I cycled there from a home maybe 10 miles away.
Also remember birthday or other family parties at their house where home made ice cream was made. Such a treat.
All in all, I hope my aunt and uncle are now together again in some form after 70 years of marriage.
Requiescat in pace.
