Rodney Ray Popken, 62, died Oct. 20, 2006, as a result of a motor vehicle accident south of Oak Harbor on State Route 20. He was born May 17, 1944, in LeMars, Iowa, to William Henry and Esther Emma (Osterbuhr) Popken.

Rodney entered the U.S. Navy in 1963 and served as a boiler tender. He was transferred with the Navy to NAS Whidbey Island and left the service in 1968 as a BT-2. Both Del-Jen and Brown, and Root, federal contractors, employed him as a boiler engineer at NAS Whidbey.

Rodney was also employed at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Whitehead-Muzzall Post 7392 as club manager for many years. He also worked at the American Legion and the Marine Club on base. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans of Oak Harbor and served as a volunteer driver of their shuttle, transporting veterans to Seattle.

Rodney is survived by three sisters: Jenean Lesher of Mesa, Ariz.; Barbara Kunkel of Moville, Iowa; and LeeAnn DeHahn of Orange City, Iowa; and two brothers, Romain Popken of Hinton, Iowa and Billy Popken of Binton, Iowa. Two brothers preceded him in death: Barrel Popken and Gary Popken.

Memorial services were held Oct. 24 at Burley Funeral Chapel, with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Whitehead-Muzzall Post 7392 officiating. Cremation was held with private family inurnment to follow at a later date. Arrangements were entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.