1945 ~ 2024
BINGHAM TOWNSHIP – John Joseph Popa, 79, of Bingham Township, passed away Friday, September 6, 2024 at the Munson Hospice House John was born May 19, 1945 in Traverse City, the son of John and Dorothy (Galla) Popa.
On January 22, 1966 at Immaculate Conception Church of Traverse City he married Gayle (Grueber) Popa who survives.
Gayle caught John’s eye during a basketball tournament at Traverse City High School. The two teenagers would meet at the Acme “Tanz House” where area youths went to dance. After a month of dancing John worked up the courage to ask Gayle on a date and they went to see 007’s Goldfinger. John graduated from Suttons Bay High School in 1963 and attended Ferris State University and Northwestern Michigan College. John worked at Wares and Son Plumbing and Heating. John served in the U.S. Army reserves. After a work accident he attended Michigan Tech where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering as the top graduate of that class. While at Michigan Tech, Gayle and John welcomed their daughter to the family.
He spent a career in the energy field. Gayle and John traversed Michigan and parts of the U.S. John’s career started in West Olive, where they built their first house and welcomed their son to the family. They also lived in Charlevoix, Atlanta, GA, Midland, St. Joseph, Ludington, and finally settling in Bingham Township.
John worked for Consumers Energy with assignments at Campbell Plant, Big Rock Nuclear Plant, INPO, Midland Nuclear Plant, Palisades Nuclear Plant, among others. John then worked for Cherryland Electric Cooperative. John also worked as the lead engineer in the demolition and construction of the Grand Traverse Pavilions.
His love for Leelanau County was boundless and he spent decades serving the residents of Leelanau County. He served three terms on the Leelanau County Road Commission.
Before there was a Leland Dam Authority, the management of the Leland Dam and water concerns were handled by the road commission. John was passionate about the dam and set up controls and protections to manage lake levels and protection for the dam. Even when the dam authority was set up, which he was not a member of, his guidance and council was sought out for the betterment of the dam. John was also Bingham Township representative on the Lake Leelanau Lake Association.
He enjoyed deer and rabbit hunting, deer camp, or just quite time at his camp on Drummond Island and spending time with the many dear friends he had there. During John’s life, his family estimates he only missed 2 Cedar Polka Festivals. John enjoyed HO Scale trains and had a sizable lay-out in one of the rooms of the Bingham Township house that he built.
He was a man of faith, dedicated family man, and a man who loved Leelanau County.
The family expresses their deepest thanks to the many friends and family members who have mailed letters, cards, and reached out to the Popa family in their time of need.
John is survived by his wife, Gayle; his two children, Nicole (Ron) Rushton, Aaron (Amy) Popa; three grandchildren, Emma Popa, Abby Popa, John A. Popa; and his siblings, Dorothy Jean Coulter, Paulette (Duane) Lueck, Dale ( Jan) Popa, David (Karen) Popa, Thaddeus (Nancy) Popa, Marie ( Joe) Lawson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers-in-law, Joseph Bennett and Thomas Coulter.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, September 13th at the Martinson Funeral Home in Suttons Bay, with the Rosarytobeprayedat7p.m. Themass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 14th at St. Michael’s Church of Suttons Bay with the family greeting friends at 10 a.m. Father Leonard Paul will serve as celebrant. Burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery of Isadore will be held at a later date.
Memorials may be directed to John J. Popa Memorial Scholarship Fund, PO Box 159, Suttons Bay, MI 49682 and/or The Lake Leelanau Lake Association at P.O. Box 123, Leland, MI 49654.
Please share condolences with the family at www.martinson.info Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.
