Bess Rhea Popp

Bess Rhea Popp was born in East St. Louis, Illinois to Ed and Nelly Bales on June 7th, 1928. She passed away peacefully on January 23rd, 2019. She was 90 years old. Bess led an active life as an only child, moving frequently with her parents. Her father, “EW”, worked for the Diamond Match Company. Ironically, a company whose primary purpose was to ignite tobacco products into smokable form. Smoking, as will be mentioned later, was her grand nemesis. She attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. It is here that she would meet her future husband Kenny Popp. They were married on August 31st, 1948. Initially they lived in Oak Park, Illinois where their first child, Kevin, was born in 1950. Shortly thereafter they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where Kenny worked as a pharmaceutical representative. Two more children followed, Jeff in 1953 and Julie in 1957. Bess’ list of activities outside the family, were lengthy and most importantly, trail blazing. She touched many people’s lives in ways that improved their self and wellbeing. Most of these activities were born out of her frustration with traditional medical care, which she felt failed to improve her personal medical problems from which she suffered during her adult life. This all lead to a life committed to alternative health care, a process just beginning to emerge in the ‘60’s. She was the first formal instructor of Hatha yoga in the city. The yoga helped the body, so she became involved in Transcendental Meditation to cover the mind and spirit. Today, both are accepted in traditional medicine as ways to improve health without medication or surgery. Another irony, given the fact that Kenny sold pharmaceuticals. She was clearly way ahead of her time. Over the years she added complementary activities to her resume which included reflexology, oral supplements/herbs, water aerobics, and even water yoga, all of which she practiced and taught well into her 8th decade. She helped 3 local psychiatrists introduce Biofeedback into their clinical practices, using her meditation skills to provide the nidus for relaxation. She would be very disappointed if we did not let the world know that she was an “Olympic class” seamstress and knitter. She could conquer the world with a pair of knitting needles and could knit anything, for anyone, for any reason. Lastly, she was proud of the battle she fought to ban smoking in public places. She suffered from asthma, easily triggered by smoke. At the beginning of the battle she single handedly convinced the state legislature to at least ban smoking on elevators where the space was so confined. From there the process began to snow ball into our current non-smoking ban which has improved everyone’s health.

She was preceded in death by her husband Kenny and son Kevin (Pam). She is survived by her son Jeff (Barb) and daughter Julie (Ron Roth), daughter-in-law Pam C Popp as well as grandchildren: Tami (Brad) Uribe , Corbin (Whiney) Popp, Collin Popp, Christopher Popp, Cameron Popp (Jenna Lynne Olson), Jenna Mary Popp, Cory Pepper, and Kasey Pepper. A private service will be held at a later date.