Ronnie (Ron) Lee Popp, age 85, passed away on September 18, 2026. Ron was born on April 5, 1941, to Ervin and Hilda Popp. He graduated from Hilbert High School in 1959 and a few years later was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served in Germany until 1965. In December 1966 he married the love of his life Mary Ann VandenHeuvel. They were married just shy of 60 years. He spent his early years working the family farm, spent many years as a laborer, and retired from the trucking industry.

Ron was a proud father and grandfather. He loved the outdoors and loved their place on the Townsend Flowage. He was in his element when he was snowmobiling, four-wheeling, ice fishing, or cooking things on his daily campfires. Ron was a member of the Red Arrow snowmobile/ATV club where he spent many hours clearing, watering, and grooming the trails to keep them in tip top shape, and a member of the Townsend Lake Association where he operated the weed cutting machine many summers, and a member of the American Legion Post 44 Wabeno. Ron was a good man to know if you needed help with anything. He loved playing games and cards, especially Sheepshead, and would play anytime he could with family or friends.

Ron is survived by his wife Mary, son Darren Popp, son Rick (Amy) Popp, daughter Mindy (Lance Mauel) Popp; 5 grandchildren Rachael (Alex), Brianna (Michael), Abby (Sam), Cole (Julia), and Ryan; sister Cheryl (Bruce) Schwartz, brother-in-law Jim VandenHeuvel, and sisters-in-law Debbie Hupfauf, Helen VandenHeuvel, and Jeanne VandenHeuvel. He was preceded in death by his parents Ervin and Hilda Popp, his father and mother in-law John and Ceil VandenHeuvel, his sisters Virginia and Judy, his brother Ervin Jr., his brothers-in-law Dan VandenHeuvel, Hank Hupfauf, Jim Riedel, his sisters-in-law Nancy Riedel, Ginny Kilby, and Sandy VandenHeuvel.

Family and friends are invited to a celebration of life open house on Monday, October 19th from 4-7pm at Waverly Beach Bar and Grille (N8770 Fire Lane 1 Menasha WI). 

A special thanks to Ron’s caregivers in his final days: the staff at Cherry Meadows Hospice, nurse Aleena, and social worker Erica. They were angels on Earth to Ron and his family.