Steven Lauritzen Poppleton

Steven Lauritzen Poppleton, 78, of Chubbuck, passed away on December 7, 2021.

Steven Lauritzen Poppleton, 78, passed away December 7, 2021, at his home after a short battle with liver cancer.

Steven was born July 27, 1943 in Logan, Cache, Utah. He was the son of Joseph Allen Squires Poppleton and Libbie Lauritzen Poppleton. Soon after his birth Steven’s father, who was in the United States Army, was sent to Italy to join the troops fighting there. Steven and his mother went to live in Hyrum, Utah with her father. When Allen returned home, he and Libbie made their home in Hyrum, Utah. Steven grew up learning how a farm and dairy operation worked.

Steven attended Lincoln Elementary, South Cache Junior High School and South Cache High School in Hyrum, Utah. He graduated from south Cache High School on May 25, 1961.

Steven was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the Western Canadian Mission and served as a Gospel Doctrine Teacher, a Ward Clerk, a Nursery assistant, a Cub Scout Den Leader and other callings.

Steven attended Weber State College in Ogden, Utah and was trained in electronics. He attended Utah State University in Logan, Utah majoring in Secondary Education with an emphasis on Industrial Arts and Technology Education. He graduated on June 6, 1970 with a Bachelor of Science Degree.

While attending Utah State he met Jo Marie Smith. They were married June 7, 1968 in the Logan LDS Temple, Logan, Utah. They had two daughters join their family, Jacqueline Jeanette and Stephanie Adele.

After graduating from Utah State, Steven and Marie moved to Pocatello, Idaho. Steven taught Industrial Arts and Technology at Alameda Junior High School from August 1970 to June 1976. He then transferred to Pocatello High School where he taught Woodworking, Carpentry, Electronics, Architecture, Drafting, and Mechanical Drawing until he retired in May 1999.

As a teen and while attending South Cache High School, Steven was introduced to Amateur Radio. It became an interesting and lifelong hobby for him. He obtained his Novice Class license with the Call Sign “KN7KKJ.” Next he studied Morse Code and became a Technician Class with the Call Sign “K7KKJ.” He did not stop there and got his General Class License with Call Sign “KJ7IF.” He made many contacts and loved talking to other “Hams” around the world. He spent hours talking and making friends. He soon wanted to increase his band width so he studied again and got his Extra Class license and kept his “KJ7IF” Call sign for a few years, then changed it to “W7RSK.” He and his “Ham” friend, Paul Smith “W7EKG” made it a habit of checking into the Utah Beehive Net at 12:30 p.m. daily then talking on the radio for the next couple of hours. His other hobby, camping, did not stop his talking on the radio since he had a mobile rig to take with him. He was a member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Pocatello Amateur Radio Club and the Emergency Response Communications Net sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Ham” radio was his favorite hobby.

His other hobbies were fishing, camping, hiking, snowshoeing, riding ATV’s, gardening, growing apple trees, and daily walks around Cotant Park, near his home. Many hours were spent at Devil’s Creek, Deep Creek, Chesterfield Reservoir, and Island Park camping and fishing. Adventures to Yellowstone National Park and Craters of the Moon were almost a yearly event. Then came the camping spot in Thunder Mountain Recreation Subdivision near Lava Hot Springs. Steve and Marie carved out a camping spot, put a camp trailer on it and then enjoyed many hours watching bluebirds, deer, talking on the “Ham” radio, ATVing, watching sunsets and star gazing.

Although Steven never served in the military, he enjoyed reading about, collecting books about and going to see World War II airplanes especially B-17s and B-24s. He enjoyed going to the Hill Air Force Base Air Museum in Roy, Utah and whenever there was an airshow or display of those planes at the Pocatello Airport he went to see the planes.

Steven is survived by his wife, Jo Marie Poppleton, his daughter Jacqueline Jeanette (Scott) Henderson, Eagle Mountain, Utah; his daughter, Stephanie Adele Poppleton, Chubbuck, Idaho and his grandson, Mitchell Allen Brennan, Holladay, Utah. Steven is also survived by his brothers Craig Poppleton, Queen Creek, Arizona, his sister, Susan (Dave) Smith, Fredricksburg, Virginia, and his brother, Kent (Jeanie) Poppleton,Tremonton, Utah.

Steven was preceded in death by his grandson, Anthony Scott Brennan, his father, Allen Poppleton, his mother, Libbie Poppleton and his father-in-law, John Sivell Smith.

On Saturday, December 18 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon a viewing will be held at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 West Chubbuck Road, Chubbuck, Idaho. Following the viewing a graveside service will follow at Rest Lawn Cemetery 2864 South 5th Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho. After the graveside service there will be a light luncheon and celebration of life at Wilks Funeral Home in Chubbuck.

We would like to thank the nurses and staff at Solace Health Care for the loving and attentive care he received. We would like to thank our many friends and neighbors in the Chubbuck Third Ward for their care and loving support.

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