Charles J. "Chuck" Popelka, 83, formerly of 5250 Howard Ave., Stevens Point, died Thursday, May 1, 2008, at Harmony Living Center in Stevens Point. He was under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care Hospice Services.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Pisarski Community Funeral Home in Plover, with Pastor Thomas Petersen officiating. Burial will follow in the Restlawn Memorial Park in the town of Grand Rapids in Wood County.
Visitation will be at the funeral home from 9 a.m. Saturday until the services.
Memorials may be made in his name in lieu of flowers to Aspirus Comfort Care Hospice Services, Ministry Home Care-Hospice Services or Meals on Wheels.
Condolences may be offered online at www.pisarskifuneralhome.com.
Mr. Popelka was born May 15, 1924, in Bonduel, a son of the late Charles J. and Sophie (Kleman) Popelka. He graduated from Bonduel High School in 1942.
He served in the United States Army from Feb. 12, 1944, to Nov. 28, 1945. He served in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. He received the Victory Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with one Silver Battle Star, three overseas service bars, one service stripe and the Good Conduct Medal.
He was married to Marianne Dettman on May 22, 1954, at St. James Lutheran Church in Shawano. She died in 1991.
After their marriage they lived in Zion, Ill., for a short time where he worked for the Milwaukee Railroad. They moved to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., where he worked for the Soo Line Railroad.
They located to Stevens Point in 1972, where he worked as a dispatcher for the Soo Line Railroad until he retired on Dec. 15, 1985.
He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and the church's Young at Heart's Club.
Survivors include two daughters, Susan (Rick) Julson, Chippewa Falls, and Karen (Jerry) Rushmore, Osseo; four grandchildren, Hunter and Jordan Julson and Sara and Dalton Loggin; and his good friends, Donald and Charlotte Showalter.
He was also preceded in death by one brother and two sisters.