Obituary of Kenneth Poppleton

BIOGRAPHY POPPLETON ~ Kenneth Raymond Poppleton passed away peacefully at the Lloydminster Hospital, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Thursday, August 21, 2008 at the age of 82 years. Ken will be sadly missed by: sister-in-law: Louise Poppleton; brother-in-law Ed and Elaine Hope; nieces and nephews: Ian and Bernadette Poppleton, Mary and Jerry Segin, Darren and JoAnn Poppleton, Garry and Margaret Poppleton, Lavina and Doug Katchuk, Tom Poppleton, Brian and Bonnie Hope, Janet and Doug O'Mara, Graeme and Barb Hope and their families; as well as cousins in England. Ken was predeceased by his brothers: Harry, Dougal, Norman, Jim and Muriel, Gordon & Shirley, Charlie; sister Peggy and nephew John Poppleton. The funeral service for Ken was conducted from the Neilburg Community Hall, Neilburg, Saskatchewan on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. with Reverend Lorna Brick officiating. A eulogy was given by Bernadette Poppleton. The hymns sung were "In The Garden", "Amazing Grace" and "There'll Be Peace In The Valley" accompanied on the organ by Marcie Park. Neilburg community choir was in attendance. Honorary pallbearers were All Those Who Shared In Ken's Life. Active pallbearers were Mert Cayford, Everett Putnam, Ron Smith, Pat Gibbons, Glen Hinch, Lyle Thom, Tommy Kitching and Joe Nuspl. Interment was held at the East Manitou Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements. POPPLETON ~ Kenneth Raymond Poppleton was born on February 14, 1926 in the Unity Hospital - the only one of eight children not born at home. He was the seventh child in Thomas & Harriett Poppleton's family. Ken spent his entire life in the East Manitou District mostly on the family farm. He took his schooling, Grades One through Ten at East Manitou School with his favorite teacher being Miss Edith Lakness. Sports were very important to Ken throughout his life. He played ball in school and it was a lifelong passion. He enjoyed watching the Blue Jays games on TV, the last one on the evening before he passed away. He played 11 years for the Neilburg All-Stars and Monarchs and he got to play at the Saskatoon Exhibition with the All-Stars. Later he was a base umpire for the Monarchs. He also played softball with East Manitou for many years with his brothers and nephews. Hockey was another of Ken's sporting passions. He learned to play hockey with the Jeffrey's, McClelland's, MacCuish's and MacKenzie's on the sloughs near home with willows as sticks and horse turds for pucks. He played his first game in Neilburg when he was 13 years old. He continued supporting hockey and the Arena throughout his life. He was a manager for the senior hockey team and he was a goal judge. Ken loved the Toronto Maple Leafs and when Toronto got a professional baseball franchise, he loyally followed the Blue Jays. In later years he enjoyed bowling especially with the Friday afternoon gang where a strike, gutter ball or just a pin or two was fantastic and fun. In 1942, Ken left school and started farming with his dad and brothers. They milked cows, shipped cream and raised calves and pigs. The cattle herd was started in the 30's when the farmers that moved north from the dry south would leave the weak newborn calves at the farm, which the Poppletons' raised. They raised Hereford cattle and in the 70's they purchased Simmentals to crossbreed. Eventually they raised purebred Simmental cattle, which they sold to several cattle producers under the name of Poppleton Brothers. We are still asked today if we are related to the Poppletons that sold Simmental cattle. After the brothers had their auction sale, the cattle herd was replaced with a barn full of cats that were cared for as well as the cattle had been. Their home quarter was incredibly rocky and after years of picking, it still is today. Milburn Jeffrey remembers being able to walk from the Jeffrey farm to the Poppleton farm, about a mile, stepping from stone to stone. Only 75 acres were ever broke on the home quarter. Come harvest time, Ken and his dad stooked for the neighbors until it was time to thresh. Ken could build the biggest and best load of sheaves on the wagon and he was fast. The Poppleton brothers threshed together even though some farmed separately. This continued until combines were used. Kenneth was very generous. He supported the Neilburg community, helping build the Arena, Community Hall, Vet Clinic, Restaurant, etc and he supported the local businesses by shopping at home for professional and personal needs. Ken enjoyed Christmas with the family and having the extended family come for visits. He handpicked a Christmas card for each niece and nephew. The cards were personal for each one. One of the highlights was his 80th birthday when all his nieces and nephews came to celebrate including the Hope's - Brian, Janet and Graeme from Ontario and BC. Family was special to Ken. In his later years, Ken and sister-in-law Louise enjoyed each other's company spending a lot of time on the road. He was always working when he was younger and never took the time to go very far from home. The only trip he ever had taken was to Toronto with nephew Tom to the Royal Winter Fair. Ken and Louise took many trips exploring the Prairies from Watrous to the Cypress Hills, west to the Mountains and north to Grand Prairie. Ken enjoyed seeing the country he lived in. We will all remember Ken for his dry sense of humor. Back when Participaction was the craze, the Poppletons were putting hay into the loft of the barn on a plus 30-degree day. Two college students came around to promote exercise. They were dressed in shorts and T-shirts. The students explained to the men that in order to get into shape, they should exercise more, like taking up running. Ken replied "How about this, we'll go for a run if you could so kindly put on a pair of jeans and complete our afternoon of exercising." Laughter was enjoyed. We will miss you Uncle Kenny. CARD OF THANKS The Poppleton Families would like to thank the Neilburg Ambulance attendants as well as Dr. Gerber and the staff at Lloydminster Hospital for their care of Ken. Thanks to Reverend Lorna Brick, organist Marcie Park, the Community Choir and the Pallbearers for the comforting service and the East Manitou Ladies Club for the delicious lunch. Thanks to the Friday Afternoon Bowlers for the meat and cheese tray and to all who sent cards, donations and phone calls. Extra special thanks to Glenn and Dave McCaw and McCaw Funeral Service for the care and compassion during the arrangements and the funeral service. The Poppleton Families Donations may be made to the Manitou Museum or the Manitou Memorial Arena