May 30, 1961 – January 2, 2026
“A Glorious Day in Heaven”
Terry Bruce Popken came into the world on May 30, 1961, in Sioux City, Iowa. He lived in Hawarden, Iowa, until the age of 13, when the family moved to Elma. He graduated from Cresco Community High School in May, 1980.
After graduation he found employment with Carlson Seed Company and moved to Roseville, Illinois, where he married Marcy Crosier. To this union of 26 years two children were born, Nicole (1982) and Nathaniel (1987). Terry also worked with Bill Cook at Warren Heating and Cooling for 10 years. Afterwards he began delivering fuel for Hicksgas and quickly worked his way up to store manager.
He returned to Elma in 2007 to farm with his father. Shortly after, God led him to his soulmate. They were united in holy matrimony on July 27, 2009, outside of Riceville, Iowa. In 2011 they moved to an acreage near Elma, farming his mother’s farm for 10 years and helping Eric Hawbaker with spring and fall fieldwork. If he wasn’t in the field, he was talking about it to his brothers-in-law. He loved hauling grain with his semi. When asked what he was up to these days, he would always say he was “semi-retired”.
Terry described himself as a simple man who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, such as meeting the men at the gas stations in Roseville, Illinois, and Alta Vista, Iowa, for coffee every morning. He felt it was his mission to share the Gospel and did so at every opportunity. He loved watching the birds come to the feeders outside the windows. His favorite bird was the oriole and was thrilled that we had two kinds at our house, the bright Baltimore and the smaller, darker ranch oriole. He looked for their arrival each spring and liked to search for their nests in our trees.
His priorities were God, his wife and his family. Terry’s family was his world. His strong work ethic made him an excellent provider, gardening during the summers and helping preserve produce in the autumns. He often remarked that raising Nate was “the best thing I ever did.” Terry loved making wood projects like Nate’s pinewood derby cars, taking him to the gas station and school and picking him up every day. Later they spent many happy hours hunting, fishing, working and farming together. He missed his daughter deeply in his last years. His one regret was not meeting his granddaughter Seeley. He got to hear her voice though; Nate played a video of her singing the Star Spangled Banner. He cried tears of joy that day.
Preceding him in death were his father Bruce, his grandparents, his paternal uncle, Larry Popken, and his maternal aunts Beverly Lindgren, Peggy Nilson, and Pat Dunham.
He is survived by his wife, Darla (Kock); mother, Pauline (Lindgren); siblings, Tina (Randy) Leib, Teresa (Tom) Watson, Timothy (Maria) and Travis (Rachel); many cousins, nieces and nephews; two children, Nicole Barr and Nathaniel (Cassie) Popken; and five grandchildren, Tyler Carlson-Juhl, Seeley Barr, Tinley, Tayley and Truley Popken.
Terry was called home by his Lord and Savior on January 2, 2026, with his son and devoted wife by his side.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Friday, January 9, 2026, at the Cornerstone Methodist Church in Riceville. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 4:00-7:00pm at Schmelzer (formerly Lindstrom) Funeral Home in Riceville, and again one hour prior to services at the church on Friday morning. He will be buried at Riverside Cemetery in Riceville, Iowa.
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