George Michael Pope

George Michael Pope, age 81, of Koeltztown, departed this life Monday, January 28, 2013, at his residence near Koeltztown. Mr. Pope had been in failing health for some time. He was born on November 23, 1931, at Freeburg, a son of George Andrew and Eleanor Anne (Welschmeyer) Pope. Mr. Pope was united in marriage on April 14, 1956, at St. Thomas to Bernice Catherine Strope, and to this union, eight children were born. Mr. Pope was a United States Army veteran of the Korean Conflict; was a member of the St. Boniface Catholic Church, Koeltztown; and the Argyle Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 8045, Argyle. He was a lifelong farmer in Osage County, retiring to Koeltztown in 1992. Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. Pope include: one son, Robert Pope and friend, Rhonda Pope, Freeburg; seven daughters, Janet Carel and husband Keith, Jefferson City, Linda Herigon and husband Dave, Iberia, Nancy Schulte and husband Stephen, Meta, Carol Rackers and husband Dale, Wardsville, Alice Pope and friend Michael Fritz, Atlanta, Georgia, Sandy Hale and husband Patrick, Jefferson City, and Diane Pope, Jefferson City; four sisters and two brothers-in-law, Alvina Boehmer, Jefferson City, Loretta Rademan, Wardsville, Emma Scheulen, Loose Creek, Doris and Winiford Lewis, Jefferson City, and Walter Schwartz, Argyle; one sister-in-law, Bernadine Pope, Rich Fountain; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife on June 27, 2012; his father on December 13, 1979; his mother on December 3, 1982; one brother, Frank Pope on December 14, 1999; and four sisters, Mary Lueckenotte on April 19, 1993; Irene Koelling on July 22, 1999; Teresa Schwartz on August 1, 2010 and Lydia Clark on February 3, 2011. Visitation will be 4 - 8 p.m., Wednesday, January 30, 2013, with a VFW service at 7:30 p.m., followed by a Prayer Service with the Rev. Msgr. Marion J. Makarewicz leading, and from 9 - 10 a.m., Thursday, January 31, 2013, all in the St. Boniface Catholic Church, Koeltztown. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Mr. Pope at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, January 31, 2013, in the St. Boniface Catholic Church, Koeltztown, with the Rev. Msgr. Marion J. Makarewicz officiating. Interment with full military honors will be in the St. Boniface Cemetery, Koeltztown, under the direction of the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes. Memorial contributions are suggested by the family to the Argyle VFW Post No. 8045 with envelopes available at the St. Boniface Catholic Church, Koeltztown, or the Vienna Office of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be left for the family at birminghammartinfuneralhomes.com