LaVern (Vern) Edward Popp passed away on June 28, 2026, at the age of 92. Vern was born on December 12, 1933, in Hoisington, Kansas, to Solomon and Mollie (Scheck) Popp, the fourth of six children. Vern joined the Navy in 1952 and served as signalman aboard the USS George Clymer, transporting troops between Korea and Japan during the Korean War. Vern met and married Lois (Nadine) Little while working at the VA hospital in Wichita, KS. They were married from 1958 - 1978 and had three children. He was married to Patricia Weunschel from 1980 - 1989.

In 1968, Vern moved to St. Joseph, MO, where he worked at KFEQ TV as a news anchor, then at KFEQ radio as the news director. Later, Vern worked in marketing as the Promotion Director at East Hills Mall in St. Joseph, then in Kansas City, Colorado, and New Mexico; he became a Certified Marketing Director.

Vern’s entrepreneurial ventures included a radio station, a Baskin Robbins, and a picture frame shop. He also sold hearing aids and worked in security at the KC airport and then for a local security company. He retired in 2014 at the age of 80. Vern was a Boy Scout leader for many years and coached his son’s Little League team ensuring that everyone got to play.

Vern was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Richard, Marvin and William (Bill), and his sister Alice Foster. He is survived by a sister Velma (Fred) Beopple of Texas, and by his children Dan (Vicky) of Akron, OH, and daughters Cherie (Jim) Hill of Saint Joseph, and Jean (Rick) Auxier of Kansas City, MO, six grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Vern was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Visitation will be held on July 8 from 6:00 - 7:00pm at Heaton-Bowman Funeral Home. Vern will be interred at the Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas on Thursday, July 9th, 2026 at 1:30 PM.