Obituary: Popiel, Marian F. (Schauer)
Age 92
Marian was an amazingly strong and independent woman and a personal hero to us.
Marian was born on October 13, 1921, to Joseph and Theresa (Veith) Schauer, as the youngest girl of 15 children.
North Dakota was her early home; differing accounts place her birth in either Beach or Pearl, and she grew up on a farm in Trotters.
She spoke fondly of her time on the farm.
Marian’s mother died when Marian was only 17 years old.
Marian joined the Navy as one of the World War II era WAVES.
For some of her military training, Marian went to business school in Milledgeville, GA; she then served at the Bremerton, Washington Naval Base.
Marian was honorably discharged from the Navy in July, 1945.
Marian married George Edward Popiel on June 1, 1945 in Seaside, Oregon.
Marian and George lived in a number of places, including Oregon, Wyoming and Louisiana, but spent the majority of their years together in Montana.
They retired in Bozeman.
Marian was active in the Catholic Church, loved playing bridge, and was an incredible cook and homemaker.
Marian worked on and off as a waitress and bartender.
Marian gave birth to her only child, Rodney James Popiel, on February 6, 1946.
Marian and George moved to Spokane, Washington in the early 80s to be near their only son and his family.
In the early 90s, Marian and George moved to St. George, UT to be in a warmer climate.
They were deeply involved in running the Catholic thrift store for St. George Catholic Church in that same town.
George passed away in December, 2000.
All 14 of Marian’s siblings preceded her in death.
After George’s death, Marian moved back to Spokane to again be near her son and daughter-in-law.
Marian resided at Rockwood Lane for many years and was a parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Rodney died in September 2009.
Marian is survived by her daughter-in-law, Arlette Popiel; her granddaughters, Cindy Leaver and Jennifer Popiel; great-grandchildren Chance, Mackenzie, Talia, and Jovie Leaver and David (James), Kate, Molly, and Lucy Borgmeyer.
We will miss Marian dearly and her timeless style and wonderful sense of humor.
Memorial services will be held in May, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spokane, WA.
Marian will be inurned at that time at Mary Queen of Peace Cemetery in Spokane, WA Please visit Marian’s on-line memorial page at www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com to leave a message of condolence.