Submitted by: Mary Jo Koran

SBT 1/31/2008

Surnames:  Butler - Cressy – Emmons - Fagan – McKee – Silva - Van de Putte - Van Poppel

Cemetery:  Fairview Cemetery, Mishawaka

Dennis “Creeper” Van Poppel

February 22, 1940 – January 29, 2008

MISHAWAKA – Dennis “Creeper” R. Van Poppel, 67, passed away in his home on the morning of Tuesday, January 29, after an illness.

Dennis was born on February 22, 1940, in Mishawaka, as the son of Cyriel and Alice (Van de Putte) Van Poppel.  He was preceded in death by his father and by a grandson son, Ryan Cressy.  On April3, 1971, in Mishawaka, he married the former Sue Ann Fagan. 

Surviving Creeper are his mother, Alice Van Poppel of Mishawaka; his wife, Sue Ann; three daughters, Carla (Mike) Cressy, Nicole (Rick) McKee and Lindsey Van Poppel, all of Mishawaka; two sons, Kevin (Marian) Van Poppel of Farmington MI and Brent (Missy) Van Poppel of Mishawaka;  11 grandchildren, Kayla McKeen, Grace Van Poppel, Mitchell Emmons, Ricky McKee, Elizabeth Emmons, Dylan Cressy, Alex Van Poppel, Shawn McKee, Josee Emmons, Shanna McKee and Colin Dennis Van Poppel; two sisters, Andrea (Jeff) Butler of South Bend, Mary Ann (Juan) Silva of Gulf Port MS; and a brother, Jeffery (Debbie) Van Poppel of Mishawaka.  Also surviving are his mother and father-in-law Geraldine and Robert Fagan of Mishawaka.

Creeper worked for N&H Vending for 35 years before he retired.  He had worked at Maury’s Pat’s Pub for the past several years.  Creeper was a member of the Notre Dame Quarterback Club, St Bavo Catholic Church and St Bavo Athletic Association in Mishawaka.  He was a kind, wonderful, caring, loving, hard-working man who touched everyone’s life with whom he came in contact.  Wherever Creeper was, people were sure to be laughing and having a good time. 

Family and friends may gather in the Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W 8^th Street, Mishawaka, from 2 to 8pm, with a Rosary at 2:30pm today, January 31, to remember and celebrate Creeper’s life.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10am Friday, February 1^st in St Bavo Catholic Church, Mishawaka, with Rev. Barry England officiating.  Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Mishawaka.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to an Education Fund for Lindsey Van Poppel. 

“I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar.  This is the only race worth running.  I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way.  All that’s left now is the shouting – God’s applause!” (2Timothy 4:7-8)