Donald Glen PopejoyMarco Island, FLDonald Glen Popejoy, of Marco Island, Florida, died on Wednesday, February 8, 2017, at Physicians Regional Medical Center in Naples, Florida, from complications of emphysema. Don was 78 years old. He was born on December 6, 1938 in Garden City, Kansas to Glen and Nola (McGillivray) Popejoy, and lived most of his life in Ulysses, Kansas. Don graduated from Grant County Rural High School (now Ulysses High School). He then attended Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, where he met the love of his life, Susan (Berkebile) Popejoy. Don and Susan both transferred to the University of Kansas, and Don graduated from KU in 1961 with a degree in civil engineering. Don and Susan were married in 1960 and had two children, Stephen (who died in 1993) and Linda, of Washington, DC.From 1961 to 1963, Don served with the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, based out of St. Petersburg, Florida He then returned to his hometown of Ulysses, Kansas where he became a successful businessman, first working for his father at his father's company, Popejoy Construction, then becoming President of the company upon his father's death in 1968. After selling his company to Ritchey Paving in 1996, he moved to Wichita and continued to work for Ritchey and serve his industry through involvement in the Kansas Asphalt Paving Association. In 2004 he retired, and Don and Susan moved to Naples, Florida, where they enjoyed golf and boating. In 2012, the couple moved to nearby Marco Island. Although he was successful in life by every objective measure, what really defined Don's life was service to others. In Florida, he and Susan became involved with the Guadalupe Center in Immokalee, Florida, first serving together as mentors of high school students participating in the Center's Tutor Corps program, and then as Don joined the Center's Board of Trustees. From 2013 to 2015, Don served as Chair of the Board, afterwards continuing in service until his passing as Vice Chair. And for 37 years, Don was active in the recovery community, helping people achieve and maintain sobriety. For decades he served as a sponsor, speaker, mentor and friend. His compassion and his commitment touched the lives of countless people, for whom he will continue to be an inspiration.Don is survived by his wife Susan, brother George (wife Bonita), daughter Linda (husband Seth Speyer), daughter-in-law Kate (husband Alec Bodzin), three grandchildren (Samuel Popejoy (wife Leandra), Stephen Speyer, and Nina Speyer), and one great-grandchild (Ama Popejoy). He will be greatly missed by many other family and friends.A Requiem Eucharist in Don's honor will be held on February 18, 2017 at 11:00 am at Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church in Naples. Memorial donations may be made in Don's name to The Guadalupe Center,
http://www.guadalupecenter.org.
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