Dennis Poppen
| Date of Interment or Death | 03/21/2026 |
|---|---|
| Location | Garden of the Christus |
| Block and Lot | 143D |
| Grave | 4 |
Obituary
Dennis G. Poppen was born on February 15, 1947 to his parents George and Mary Poppen. Dennis spent his early years on the family farm in Wyndmere ND with his ‘old’ sister Sandra, sister Jolene, and brothers Charlie and Dale. The idea of becoming a pilot came early in his life at the suggestion of his father. As the story goes, while working in the yard on a cold winter day, a plane flew overhead and his father said ‘we’re freezing down here and those guys up there are nice and warm. That’s what you should do, not this’. It didn’t take long and Dennis took his first flying lesson with a neighbor at an early age. As with any life, it had its twists and turns, but this first flight led to a long career as a commercial pilot until his retirement from American Airlines in 2007. With thousands of flight hours logged you’d think flying was his first love, but you’d be wrong. Dennis’ wife of 57 years Susan, kids Stephanie (Jerry), Jim (Mary) and grandkids Dylan, Ryan, Brooklynn, and countless relatives and friends are what he really loved. Throughout his life and retirement Dennis enjoyed trips to Hawaii, spending time at the lake in Minnesota, returning to the farm to help out, staying warm in Florida during winter, cars, telling humorous stories, cruises, walking / meeting new people, watching westerns and chicken. After 78 years on this earth and over 35 thousand hours of racing across the heavens, now it’s your time to sit back, relax, and enjoy your salvation. A celebration of life memorial will be held this spring at the Evergreen United Methodist Church in Wahpeton, ND.
Location
The Garden of the Christus is located in the Memorial Gardens, which comprises the northern half of the cemetery.