Gay Louise Unger Poppe

Gay Louise Unger Poppe of Albuquerque, NM went to be with her Lord and Savior on October 2, 2014 with family by her side. She was a loving mother, mother-in-law and grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Hannah Unger; her loving husband, Victor J. Poppe; as well as three or her four sisters. She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Stella and Bob Stiver of Rio Rancho, Pam and David Putnam of Castle Rock, CO, and Judy and David Wenger of Albuquerque. She is also survived by nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild, MSgt. Chris and Nicole McGuire USMC, Jordan and Chase of Camp Pendleton, CA, Chad and Julie Putnam, Mackenzie, Taylor Rose and Andrew of Carlsbad, CA; Kelly and Joe Grimando, Braeden and Christopher of Rio Rancho, and Joseph and Liam Grimando of Glendale, NY, Brian and Nicole Putnam of Denver, CO, Caleb and Ashly Wenger of Albuquerque, Rebekah Wenger and Jeffrey Wenger of Albuquerque, Tricia (Stiver) and Dick Downard, Delaney, Timmary, Merrily and Cassidy of West Richland, WA, and Brad and Lynsey Stiver, Mikayla, Jacob and Levi of Richland, WA. She is also survived by her youngest sister, Joyce Kellam of Indiana, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Gay was born in Cutler, IN on December 14, 1918. The middle of five daughters, she received her RN degree from Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, IN in 1940 and moved to Phoenix, AZ to nurse where she was introduced to her future husband, Vic. They married on December 8, 1946 and moved to Albuquerque where she nursed at St. Joseph’s Hospital until starting her family. She returned to nursing at Lovelace/Bataan Hospital in 1964 and retired in 1984. She, along with her husband Vic, was a charter member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Albuquerque and served there for over 50 years where she sang choir and served in the Ladies Guild. She will be remembered for her love of Jesus and her family. She leaves behind a great legacy of faith. The family wishes to give special thanks to Peggy Salazar, Gay’s faithful and loving caregiver, Alliance Hospice for their compassionate and loving care towards Gay, and her pastor, John Heffelfinger for his faithful ministry to Gay over her years of illness. A Viewing will be on Friday, October 10, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at FRENCH – Lomas. Services will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2014, 1:00 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 210 Alvarado Dr. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarrior.org or 1-855-448-3997, in memory of Gay as she had a special place in her heart for America’s Veterans. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE.