Gilbert
'Chuck'
Van Poperin
April 11, 1946 - January 7, 2013
Born in Detroit, MI
Resided in Keego Harbor, MI
Gilbert "Chuck" Van Poperin
Chuck was born in 1946 in Detroit, Michigan and spent his life in the Metro Detroit Area. He grew up in Royal Oak and lived his adult years in West Bloomfield and Keego Harbor. Living by Walnut Lake was one of his favorite things about the area.
As a boy he lived with his parents, Gilbert and Dorothy Van Poperin, and his sister Joan Van Poperin Atkinson in Royal Oak. He graduated from Royal Oak Dondero High School in 1964 and was an accomplished Eagle Scout, the youngest in the area. It was there that he played tennis, football, was on the wrestling team, and played drums in a band, "The Cockroaches." Some of his musical loves were Elvis Presley, MoTown, and 50's music.
He earned a degree in Civil Engineering and later an MBA from Wayne State University. He was a certified Professional Engineer (P.E.) and Professional Surveyor (P.S.) and spent his career working in those fields.
He loved math, physics, and history and all the humor they contain. He passed on his love of academics and seeing the humor and connections in the world to his loving daughters, and anyone he had the chance to speak with on the street, in a diner, and everywhere. He could light up a room, and then measure the brightness.
Chuck had four daughters with his ex-wife Linda: Amanda, Adrienne, Claire and Karen. Chuck considered a father's job to be keeping his daughters safe. Having him as a father meant swimming tests in the shallow end of Walnut Lake every summer, bikes covered in reflective tape to be seen by cars from miles away, and receiving jumper cables for Christmas. His daughters accompanied him on surveying expeditions through the wilds of the greater Metro Detroit area and memorized Pi out to as many decimals as possible for a quarter.
Holiday brunches with his daughters, sister, niece Julie Kufchock and her husband Steve, were one of his favorite times.
In recent years, he enjoyed reconnecting and swapping tall tales over "a shot and a beer" with old friends from high school. He will forever be remembered by many caring relatives and friends as a "Gentleman and a Scholar."
Family will receive friends at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward (btwn 13-14 Mile), Saturday 11:00am until memorial service 1:00pm.
Memorial tributes to the American Heart Association.
Chuck was born in 1946 in Detroit, Michigan and spent his life in the Metro Detroit Area. He grew up in Royal Oak and lived his adult years in West Bloomfield and Keego Harbor. Living by Walnut Lake was one of his favorite things about the area.
As a boy he lived with his parents, Gilbert and Dorothy Van Poperin, and his sister Joan Van Poperin Atkinson in Royal Oak. He graduated from Royal Oak Dondero High School in 1964 and was an accomplished Eagle Scout, the youngest in the area. It was there that he played tennis, football, was on the wrestling team, and played drums in a band, "The Cockroaches." Some of his musical loves were Elvis Presley, MoTown, and 50's music.
He earned a degree in Civil Engineering and later an MBA from Wayne State University. He was a certified Professional Engineer (P.E.) and Professional Surveyor (P.S.) and spent his career working in those fields.
He loved math, physics, and history and all the humor they contain. He passed on his love of academics and seeing the humor and connections in the world to his loving daughters, and anyone he had the chance to speak with on the street, in a diner, and everywhere. He could light up a room, and then measure the brightness.
Chuck had four daughters with his ex-wife Linda: Amanda, Adrienne, Claire and Karen. Chuck considered a father's job to be keeping his daughters safe. Having him as a father meant swimming tests in the shallow end of Walnut Lake every summer, bikes covered in reflective tape to be seen by cars from miles away, and receiving jumper cables for Christmas. His daughters accompanied him on surveying expeditions through the wilds of the greater Metro Detroit area and memorized Pi out to as many decimals as possible for a quarter.
Holiday brunches with his daughters, sister, niece Julie Kufchock and her husband Steve, were one of his favorite times.
In recent years, he enjoyed reconnecting and swapping tall tales over "a shot and a beer" with old friends from high school. He will forever be remembered by many caring relatives and friends as a "Gentleman and a Scholar."
Family will receive friends at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward (btwn 13-14 Mile), Saturday 11:00am until memorial service 1:00pm.
Memorial tributes to the American Heart Association.
Visitation
A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel)
32515 Woodward Ave.
Royal Oak, MI US 48073
Royal Oak, MI US 48073
Memorial Service begins at 1:00pm
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Service
A. J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel)
32515 Woodward Ave
Royal Oak, MI US 48073
Royal Oak, MI US 48073
