Popken quietly celebrates a century of living

Josie Popken celebrated her 100th birthday June 13, 2008, with a morning coffee at Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars where she makes her home. [Click to enlarge]

That's how Josie Popken wanted to celebrate her 100th birthday on June 13.

Her family and the staff at Plymouth Manor Care Center couldn't let that happen, so they teamed up to host a morning coffee on Friday to honor her on the momentous occasion.

Popken quietly took it all in, flowers and cards and a plaque from Plymouth Manor Care Center recognizing her reaching the century mark.

Did she ever think she'd live to be 100?

"No, I never thought I'd get this old," she said with a shake of her head.

She was born June 13, 1908, the oldest child of six children of Robert and Meta (Pageler) Grosenheider on the family farm in Preston Township.

She attended country school through the eighth grade and helped on the farm with the usual chores and caring for her younger brothers and sisters. When school was out, she helped her aunt at the restaurant in Brunsville.

Josie married Fred H. Popken on Dec. 16, 1927, and they made farming their livelihood. They retired from farming in 1964 and in 1970 moved from the farm to a house at rural Ireton when their son Ron returned from military service to operate the family farm. It has been in the family since the 1940s.

Ron and his wife, Linda, still live on that farm, where they raised Josie's two grandsons Todd and Matt. Todd and his wife Tammy live just a quarter mile away, along with their two sons, Alex and Austin. Matt lives in Ewing, N.J.

Josie is a lifelong member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Preston Township, rural Akron, where she was active in the Ladies Aide, women's circles and later the WELCA organization. Her church has always been important to her, whether it was painting a wall or serving a church dinner. She stills keeps up on the church news and is a regular at the Plymouth Manor church services on Sunday.

Retirement in the country allowed Josie and Fred time to go on fishing trips, as well as visiting with friends and family and playing cards. Reading was another favorite hobby.

Fred died in December 1989. In June 1994 Josie made the move to an apartment in Le Mars.

She has been a resident of Plymouth Manor Care Center since March 2003 and participates in activities, including bingo and the Red Hat Society. A sister, Ann Jones, and sister-in-law, Bernice Grosenheider, also reside at Plymouth Manor. Another sister, Vera and Chuck Mammen, and a brother, Bob and Violet Grosenheider, live in Le Mars as well. A sister, Elsie Oetken and brother, Fred Grosenheider, are deceased.

Perhaps it is her faith, the country air, or that little touch of Mogan David wine each evening before bedtime, that has helped Josie find a balance to a long, healthy life.