FORRESTON – Rogene L. Poppen, age 92, passed away on March 4, 2019 in Pinecrest Manor Nursing Home, Mt. Morris. Rogene was born on April 17, 1926 in Adeline, the daughter of Ernest and Rose (Horst) Hartje.
Rogene graduated from Forreston High School class of 1944, and she received a bachelor’s degree in organ and piano from Carthage College in 1948. Rogene married Alfred V. Poppen on Sept. 29, 1951 in Forreston; and he preceded her in death on Nov. 26, 1988.
Rogene was a piano teacher and she was the St. James Lutheran Church organist and choir director retiring in 2015. She was a member of the St. James Lutheran Church, Forreston.
Rogene is survived by children: Ruth Ann (Kirstie Felland) Poppen, Wheeling, and Douglas (Leslie) Poppen, West Union, Iowa; grandchildren: Marcie (Loran Marceau) Poppen, Melissa (Nathan) Husman, Mindy Poppen, Samuel Poppen, and Lily Poppen; great grandchildren: Sawyer and Keandria Marceau; sister: Leona (Carl) Nelson, Mt. Morris; daughter in law: Marta Poppen, Forreston; niece: Beth (John) Chase, Mt. Morris; nephews: David (Gretchen) Nelson, Mt. Morris, and Rick (Michelle) Nelson, Mt. Morris; and several great nieces and nephews.
Rogene is preceded in death by her parents; husband: Alfred; son: Mark.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 11, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. in St. James Lutheran Church, Forreston, with Rev. Karyn Kost officiating. Burial will be in West Grove Cemetery, Forreston. Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 10, 2019 from 3-5 p.m. in Finch Funeral Home, 405 East Hitt, Mt. Morris..
Memorials to St. James Lutheran Church and/or Pinecrest Manor Nursing Home.