James "Jim" A. Popilek

Funeral services will be on Friday, August 19th at 7:00 PM at the Daniel Funeral Home in St. Cloud for James “Jim” A. Popilek, age 71, of Waite Park, who died on Tuesday at the St. Cloud Hospital after a short battle with a very aggressive cancer. Rev. Gerald Dalseth will officiate. Interment will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls on Monday. Friends may call on Friday after 4:00 PM until the time of services at the Daniel Funeral Home in St. Cloud.

Jim was born July 2nd, 1945 in St. Paul to Roy and Joyce (Krafnick) Popilek. He served in the US Navy during the Vietnam era. He married Laverne “Vernie” Illies on January 7th, 1967. Two daughters were born to this union. They later divorced. He married Mary (Landowski) Faust on February 19th, 1993 in Hawaii. That began his life’s adventure with his best friend. Jim loved Harley’s and enjoyed a lot of rides from his teen years until his retirement. He also was passionate about classic cars and street rods. He owned several different rods over the years and enjoyed all the car shows with Mary and their friends. With his brother Roy, he shared an annual trip to Brainerd for the NHRA races.

He retired from AmeriPride Services in 2007 after a 32 year career. He was a customer service representative on almost every route they had over the years, and ended his career as a route supervisor. He was such a people person and enjoyed his daily contact with so many throughout his career. Even after retirement, he filled that need for socialization by working part-time at NAPA, delivering parts during the summer months. He enjoyed the winter by spending 6 months in Apache Junction, AZ where he and Mary owned a park model. He was always eager to get there and had a very active social life with their winter friends. He didn’t miss a dance and loved to dance to “that good old rock and roll”. Jim was a member of the Waite Park American Legion Silver Star Post 428 and Eagles Aerie # 622.

Survivors include his wife Mary, Waite Park, children, Kris Olson (Scott) Maple Grove, Lori Haakonson (Greg) Rogers, stepson Ron Faust, Arvada, CO, grandchildren, Kelsey, Parker, Carter, and Erika, brother and sister, Janet Butler (Dick) Paynesville and Roy Popilek (Kristin) Plymouth and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Carol (Rausch) Halpin and Doris Mahoney, and brothers in law, Bill Rausch and Glenn Mahoney, grandson Brock Olson and nephew Kurt Rausch.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred.

The family would especially like to thank the staffs of fourth floor south and palliative care at the St. Cloud Hospital.