Chester Anthony Popa

March 19, 1937 - November 10, 2017

TRAVERSE CITY - Chester “Chet” Anthony Popa, 80, of Traverse City, passed away peacefully, on November 10, 2017. Chester was born in Solon Township, MI. on March 19, 1937 to his parents Paul and Anna (Flees) Popa and was the youngest of 11 children. Chester married the love of his life Mary Eva Clarke on December 2, 1961 in Newfoundland, Canada and celebrated 55 years of marriage and raised two daughters and one son together. In 1959 Chester joined the U.S. Army and proudly served for 9 years total with 2 years in the Vietnam War. He enjoyed woodworking, fishing and conversations with friends. His greatest love was spending time with his wife, family, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Mary; daughters, Linda (Dr. Scott) Smith, Brenda (Thomas) Crandall; son, Phillip (Carol) Popa; grandchildren, Eric (Heather) Bagley, Hope Vittorelli, Jared Popa, Adam (Shelby Crank) Miller, and Allyson Popa; step-grandson, Broc Crandall ; great grandchildren, Olivia Rose Anderson, Elijah Matthew and Ariana Eva Miller, and Greyson Benjamin Bagley; a sister Rosabelle Poertner; sister-in-law Liz (Jerry) Hickey; step-daughter Arlaine Byrd- (Ed) Chaulk , and many other nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Eric Wayne; sisters, Henrietta Gorski, Ester O’Hara, Joanne Rosinski; brothers, Basil, Felix, Raymond, Phillip, William and Xavier in infancy. A memorial service will be held for family and friends on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 3:00 p.m. with a visitation held one hour prior at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Military Honors will be conducted by the American Legion and Cherryland VFW Post 2780. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be directed to Munson Hospice House. The family would like to express a special thank you to everyone who loved Chet and cared for him. Including; Cowell Family Cancer Center, Crystal Lake Family Care and Munson Hospice House. Please share your memories with Chet’s family by way of his online guestbook by visiting www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.