William G Poppe Jr.

William “Bill” George Poppe, Jr., 80, passed away peacefully on February 2nd, 2023, surrounded by his family. Bill is welcomed into Heaven by his parents, William and Patricia Poppe. He is survived by his wife, Catherine Poppe, and his sister, Eileen Novelline. Bill is also survived by his former wife, Susan Poppe, and his two sons, Christopher and his wife Dianne, and their daughters Ashlyn and Devin, and Kevin and his wife Patricia, and their children Erin and Daniel. Bill is also remembered fondly by Catherine’s three daughters, Andrea and her husband Richard, Tara and her husband Robert, and Melissa and her husband Peter, as well as eight grandchildren: Jillian, Ryan, Jason, Liam, Landon, Lola, Holly and Kelsey.  Bill and his twin sister, Eileen, were born and raised in Flushing, Queens to Bill Sr., a foreman for American Airlines, and mom Pat, a supervisor for the New York Telephone Company. Bill attended Holy Cross High School in Flushing. His determination to get a good education motivated him to hold multiple jobs mowing lawns, shoveling snow, delivering mail, and working at the local luncheonette to help with his high school tuition.
After high school, Bill earned a B.S. in Economics from Fordham University, served in the US Army for two years, and worked at Regis Paper Company as a salesman while attending Adelphi University’s MBA program. Bill went on to work in management for Mobil Chemical Company in Rochester, NY.  In 1975, Bill relocated to New Jersey, where he and partner Jack Verrier founded Primepak, a flexible packaging company specializing in polyethylene film and bags. Launched on a shoestring budget and a wing and prayer in a basement office, within five years the company expanded to a plant in Pennsylvania with over 100 employees.
Bill settled in Ramsey, then Franklin Lakes where he raised his family. He was very active in his community - coaching his sons’ various Franklin Lakes recreation teams and volunteering many hours with the Ramapo High School Athletic Boosters Association. He was an avid golfer and shared many happy memories with his friends at Arcola Country Club where he was a long-time member. He was a lector at Most Blessed Sacrament Church for many years, and faithfully served on the Holy Cross High School Board of Directors. He was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2009.
Family and friends may visit at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home on Thursday, February 9, 2023 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM - 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff, NJ. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, February 10, 2023 at St. Elizabeth's Roman Catholic Church, 700 Wyckoff Ave., Wyckoff, NJ - 10:00AM with entombment to follow at Maryrest Cemetery – 770 Darlington Ave., Mahwah, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Charlie Landers Foundation
(https://thecharlielandersfoundation.org).

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