Marko is survived by his wife Kathryn (Kay) Popovich of Springfield, VA, his son Todd Popovich of Burke, VA, son Michael Popovich of Sierra Vista, AZ, daughter Lori Popovich of Springfield, VA and four grandchildren Jay Popovich of Morristown, NJ, Jenna Popovich of Annadale, VA, Matthew Popovich of Heath, TX, and Bryn Popovich of Cary, NC. He is preceded in death by his father Louis (Luka) Popovich and mother, Angeline Popovich of Marble, MN, his sisters Helen Burns and Marie Grozdanich both of Pengilly, MN, and his brother Eli Popovich of Marble, MN.
Marko was born on 2 May 1938 in Grand Rapids, MN to Louis (Luka) and Angeline Popovich and raised in Marble, MN. He graduated from Greenway High School, Coleraine, MN in 1956. In 1961, he graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY with a Bachelor of Science Degree and later from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY in 1967 with a Master of Science Degree in Mathematics. He married the former Kathryn (Kay) Peterson of Coleraine, MN, his high school sweetheart, in 1961.
Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy and commissioning as a United States Army Second Lieutenant (Field Artillery) in 1961, Colonel Marko Popovich served with a great sense of duty, distinction, and honor to our nation for over 27 years, retiring in 1988 at Carlisle Barracks, PA. Throughout his distinguished career, he held a variety of key leadership and staff positions in Hawaii, Vietnam, South Korea, and several locations in the continental United States. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, Ranger Tab, and Army and Joint Staff Identification Badges.
His family remembers him as a devoted, loving husband, father, and grandfather. To his children and grandchildren, he was a selfless, loyal and dedicated family man who always encouraged and supported them to adventurously experience life and strive for continued development and excellence in the pursuit of their own interests and goals. His leisure interest included various sports, hunting, and fishing related activities which he willingly shared and imparted to his children and grandchildren.
A wake is schedule for Monday December 8th from 4:00 - 8:00 PM at the Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA. 22151.
A funeral mass will be held Tuesday December 9th at 1:00 PM at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Annadale, VA. 22003.
An interment service will occur at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA at a later to-be-determined date.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Marko Popovich to Inova Schar Cancer Institute – Greatest Need Fund at https://foundation.inova.org and use notification e-mail [email protected]. Condolences can be sent to.
The family would like to thank the medical staffs at Inova Schar Cancer Institute and Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, VA for their efforts, care, and dedication as Marko bravely fought to overcome his illness.
The funeral service will take place at Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church, located at 5121 Woodland Way, Annandale, VA, 22003, on December 9, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.
