More detail on this person: Nestor "Neo" Popa,
age 76, of Loda, IL (formerly of Griffith, IN)
passed away on Sunday, August 3, 2014. Having
suffered from a long term illness and recently
hospitalized with a major stroke, he came home
under the care of Hospice to spend his last days
surrounded by family and friends. He was preceded
in death by his parents, Milton and Rozalia Popa;
sisters: Mary Schau, Pearl Schmidt, Rose
Mahaffey and brother Milton Popa. He is survived
by his wife of 52 years, Sonda (Egener); children:
Kim Syring of Palos, Hills, IL; Duke (Wanda) Popa
of Griffith, IN: and Nick (Lisa) Osdale-Popa of
Cypress, CA; grandchildren: Megan (Chris)
Makowski, Tre' (Taylor) Popa, Bradley (Ashley)
Popa, Robert Wagman, Joe Wagman, Olivia
Wagman, Tom Syring, Cheyenne Syring and
Brandon Syring; great-grand- children: Ameila
Markowski, Trevor and Peyton Popa; siblings: Anna
Benedict, John Popa and Elena Popa. Neo spent
21 years in the US Army, 14 of those years as a
helicopter pilot, having served in Vietnam and
retiring in 1982 with the rank of Chief Warrant
Officer 3. He was an avid bowler and was on the
All-Army Bowling team in 1972 in an all services
tournament. He loved his clocks, even learning how
to repair them, keeping his own and many friend's
clocks in tip-top running condition. He was an
avid fisherman and spent almost every day of his
retirement doing so, until he became ill. An avid
Cubs fan! A memorial service will be held on
Saturday, August 30, 20134 at 2:00 p.m. at the
Community Veterans Memorial, 9710 Calumet
Avenue, Munster, IN. After the ceremony we will
gather for fellowship and refreshments at the
American Legion, 2703 Jewett Avenue, Highland, IN
to celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to Hospice or to the family.
Published in The Times on Aug. 24, 2014
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association