James L. Popp was born on February 21, 1939 in Aurora, IL. Jim was a Renaissance Man who blazed his own trails.
At a very young age, Jim learned from his father and his grandmother to be strong, work hard and never give up. These were the rules he lived by and these rules took him to great success in his life's journeys. His life's Journey was his university, learning many different facets over the years for being a trail blazer and a risk taker that took him to great heights. He always said, if you take no risks, there will be no gains.
Jim had many accomplishments over the years. He started his career at a very young age of 16. At 16 he started his own lumber business while in high school. His courage and appetite for life allowed him to be creative and accomplish anything he put his mind to. He was a land developer with multiple ancillary businesses that he created over the years. His last endeavor that he created with the love of his life and partner Carolyn Moore Popp is a industrial equipment manufacturing company that has reached every corner of the world from the Artic to the Antarctic, Africa, Middle East, South America, Kazakhstan. He has truly left his footprint on the world.
As much as Jim enjoyed to learn, he loved to teach and pass the knowledge to others. This love to teach took him to a place where over the years he brought the best out of others by mentoring those who were lost or had difficulty finding their direction. Mentoring became natural to Jim, and he loved to see people succeed. He mentored many people and brought strength and perseverance to those who didn't see it in themselves. This is a gift that he has given to many!
Jim lived by strong morals that were instilled by his grandmother and he believed that was the only way to live. He had a saying "so shall you sow, so shall you reap". Being a good person was not hard for him as this was just the right way to live your life. He spent his life deeply caring about others and always willing to help without expecting anything in return.
Jim was also a very loving man to his family. Jim is survived by his incredible loving wife and partner in business, Carolyn Moore Popp, three daughters, Susan Catherine Duvick of Dekalb, IL, Patricia Ann Platt of Newark, IL, and Mary Margaret Brown of Sheridan, IL, two sons, James L. Popp of Jamaica, NY and Peter John Popp of Sandwich, IL., two sons-in-law, David Brown & Thomas Platt, nine grandchildren Forrest Duvick, Leland Duvick, Ethan Platt, Melanie Platt, David (Johnnie) Brown Jr., Sarahjean Brown, Peter Popp Jr., Thomas Popp, & Natalie Popp, and five great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers send memorials to Shriners Hospital of Chicago, IL or St. Michael Romanian Byzantine Catholic Church, Aurora, IL.
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