Sutton Register, August 12, 1932

Wilhelm Popp Called by Death - Last Friday evening, Wilhelm Popp, one of Nebraska's pioneer farmers, passed away at his home here after a lingering illness of several years. Mr. Popp attained the ripe old age of 81 years, 4 months and 5 days, and his death marks the passing of one of Sutton's earliest and best known settlers.

Wilhelm Popp was born on March 31, 1851, at Norka, Russia. He was confirmed in Russia and in January, 1872 he was united in holy wedlock to Miss Katharine Margaretha Hahn. To them 14 children were born, 10 sons and 4 daughters, of whom one son and one daughter preceded him in death.

In 1877 he decided to emigrate to America and during the month of July of that year he arrived in America with his family and settled near Sutton where he has resided ever since. He went thru the hardships of the early days on the farm and later when conditions became better he prospered. He was active in farming up until the fall of 1909, when he moved to Sutton and since has made this his permanent home.

During the closing years of his life Mr. Popp was ailing and slowly his condition grew worse and for the past six months he was unable to leave the house. He finally became physically helpless requiring continual attention. On the evening of August 5 he quietly passed away. He leaves to mourn his departure, his aged wife, 12 children, 53 grandchildren, 35 great grand children, a brother in Oregon and a sister in Canada.

The children of the deceased are:
George - died Jan. 2, 1897.
John of Sutton.
Peter of Sutton.
Elizabeth, Mrs. Henry J. Bauer of Sutton, died June 7, 1932.
Katharine, Mrs. Jacob Hahn of Ft. Collins, Colo.
William of Sutton.
Jacob of Haxtun, Colo.
Adam of Sutton.
Christina, Mrs. Ç.E. Yost, living near Sutton.
Henry of Sutton.
Margareth, Mrs. Brown of Sutton.
Conrad of Sutton.
Daniel of Wilburton, Kansas
David of Sutton.

Funeral services were conducted at the house of Rev. R. Kirchhefer, and at the Free Reformed church at 2:30 P.M. The pall bearers were six sons of the deceased: John, Peter, William, Adam, Henry and Conrad. Interment was made in the Sutton cemetery.

Those out of town attending the funeral were as follows:
Dan Pope and family of Wilberton, Kansas.
Jacob Pope of Haxtun, Colo.,
Mr. And Mrs. John Hoegel, Mr. And Mrs. Conrad Brehm, Henry Becker, Mr. And Mrs. Wm. Hahn and son Raymond, Mrs. John Schwintt, Mrs. Anton Hahn all of Lincoln.
Wm. H. Popp of Durham, Kans.
John and Peter Popp of Topeka, Kansas.
Mr. Yost Stertz, Mrs. Margaret Bloom, Mr. And Mrs. Jacob Hamburg, Mr. And Mrs. John Nolde, Mr. And Mrs. John Green, Mrs. George Green, all of Hastings.
Mr. And Mrs. Peter Brehm, Mr. and Mrs. George Gerlach, Mr. And Mrs. Conrad Gerlach, Mr. And Mrs. Reuben Schultz, Mrs. John Pauley, Sr., Mrs. J.H. Pauley, Mr. Louie Glantz, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Glantz, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Hein, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Canfield, Mr. and Mrs. Will Sinner, Mrs. John Schmer, and Ralph Yost, all of Harvard.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Weber, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Weber, Mrs. Katherine Engle and daughter, all of Friend.

From the genealogy book documenting the descendants of Wilhelm and Katherina Popp:

During 1875-1880, when the older children of Wilhelm Popp first went to school, they, like their parents, signed their name "Popp". The teacher thought it should be "Pope", therefore changing it to such. Following this, the children and everyone signed their name "Pope", all except Wilhelm - he continued to always sign his name as "Popp". Wilhelm mentioned in his will that he did not object to his children signing their name "Pope" instead of "Popp".

*Contributor's note - it appears from FAG memorials some of the children may NOT have changed their name to "Pope", or perhaps changed back to "Popp" at some later time in their lives. There are several "Popp" headstones in the Sutton, NE cemetery.