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Published in The Dispatch-Argus on April 12
By Tom Martin
Work. It's probably the single thing that bonds me most with my father.
He worked. I worked. My first recollections of work were with my dad on the farm. The work was often difficult and unpleasant, such as cleaning out a hog house. Other times it was long and monotonous, like cultivating a cornfield.
Yet, a feeling of accomplishment could be had at the end. And while that was satisfying, somehow it was the work that was the prize. It was the means, not the end, that was most rewarding.
I recall the solitary feeling of becoming one with a shovel on back of a 1948 International pickup truck while filling the hog feeders, one scoop of corn after another. My dad had taught me how to shovel in a way to leverage the momentum to lessen the effort. A rhythm developed.
Work.
My dad sold the farm during the economic downturn of the 1980s after mom died from breast cancer. The farm had been theirs together. They'd somehow made it along through some historically trying times. As a kid, I was spared the sight of the struggle, but I learned of it as I grew older.
The memory of sitting inside the house fresh out of college while auctioneers sold what was left of my parents' farm is indelible. A neighbor had purchased the land and on that day, a crowd gathered in the barnyard around the 4020 John Deere tractor, the implements, tools and hay racks full of odds and ends employed in the now defunct farm operation.
There was an excitement in it. I'd never seen that many cars and trucks down our gravel road. The activity, though, was soon eclipsed by the overriding sensation of an effort collapsed. A job left for someone else. Work undone. And now people were picking through its pieces.
Last week, my dad planted a dozen 70-foot rows of potatoes. He's 93. He told me it was long day in the wind. He retired from teaching at age 55, but the work didn't stop.
After I'd married and dad had retired, we'd occasionally do some outdoor projects. He built and helped me paint the wooden tomato cages I use to this day.
My wife and I bought our first home in Princeton, Illinois. Sometimes I drive past that house to see if the brickwork border around the flower bed is still there. It is. It's not the landscaping that I want to see as much as the reminder of the work that day.
It was hot. Dad had taken the train up to visit my wife and me. He led the way with a pile of bricks and a bucket of mortar, brick after brick until, at the day's end, it was done. The work pulled us together in a way that leisure never would.
Growing up, my dad taught school and farmed - crops and hogs - which meant he farmed in the evenings, weekends and summers. I didn't see as much of him as I wanted.
I adopted my father's work ethic and applied it to journalism, which has resulted in a long, arduous, rewarding career as editor at six different newspapers, including the Quad-City Times and Dispatch-Argus.
The work comes at a price. Through the years, my dedication to work meant missing family moments and time together. A big story or series was always on the horizon and required extra time, or breaking news pulled me away from a family dinner or family movie night. Somewhere, there's a photo of my 6-year-old daughter sitting on my shoulders while I'm trying to work on a laptop in the living room.
And so, after 35 years as a newspaper editor, I'm going to leave the newsroom. It feels a bit like selling the farm, like I'm leaving work undone.
The work at times seemed enormous. The stories were larger than us. We told them in newsrooms in Carthage, Macomb, Princeton, Galesburg, Davenport and East Moline. I've worked with so many talented, memorable, hard-working people through the years. And while the stories will be preserved for future generations to look back on, it was the work we did together in those newsrooms reporters,photographers, editors - up against the clock, trying to pull it all together day in and day out, year after year, that will endure until my final days.
That work. I will carry it always.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 7, 2026 Media Contact Information: Aunt Millie's Bakeries Melissa Koeneman, director of marketing (260) 417-2581 mkoeneman@auntmillies.com
John F. Popp, President of Aunt Millie’s Bakeries
FORT WAYNE, Indiana — Aunt Millie’s Bakeries is deeply saddened to announce the passing of its President John F. Popp, who died on Friday, July 31, at the age of 94. A third-generation member of the family business, John’s leadership, optimism, faith, and unwavering commitment to people helped shape the company and its culture for more than four decades. John Franke Popp was born March 2, 1932, to Lucile and Les Sr. Popp. He grew up with his older brother, Les Jr., on Forest Park Boulevard in Fort Wayne and graduated from Northside High School in 1950. He went on to attend the University of Michigan, graduating in 1954, and entered the U.S. Army that same year. He served as a second lieutenant before returning home following his military service. John was offered an opportunity to begin a career as an analyst with T. Rowe Price, but his path ultimately led him back to Fort Wayne and the family bakery. At his mother’s urging, he returned home to join the business — a decision that would shape not only his own life, but the future of generations of the Popp family and Aunt Millie’s employees. Long before his career in baking, John developed a love for Lake Wawasee and water skiing, eventually becoming the Indiana state slalom water ski champion. It was at the lake that he met Esther Rolene, the love of his life. They married on June 19, 1960, and spent the next decades building a life together, raising two sons and creating countless memories with family and friends. Even with the demands of running a growing company, John made time for what mattered most, including cheering his sons on from the sidelines at their baseball and football games.
John F. Popp and his wife, Esther Rolene Popp
In 1967, John stepped away from the family bakery to pursue a career in real estate, where he developed the subdivisions of Devil’s Hollow, Manitou, Lakewood, West Hamilton Estates, White Loon, and Winding Brook. In 1980, he returned to Perfection Bakeries, where he helped guide the company through a period of significant growth and expansion. The company that would become known as Aunt Millie’s grew under his leadership into one of the largest family-owned baking companies in the United States. John viewed the people around him as an important part of that success. He loved being part of the team and was known for his optimism, encouragement, and genuine care for employees. His leadership was not simply about growing a business; it was about building an organization where people could grow, contribute, and feel that they were part of something bigger than themselves. A third-generation leader of the family-owned bakery founded in 1901, John was deeply committed to protecting and building upon the legacy established by his grandfather, John B. Franke. His influence also reached beyond Aunt Millie’s. He was a passionate advocate for independent bakeries across the country, working with industry organizations to strengthen and protect family-owned businesses. He believed in the importance of education and workforce development and encouraged lifelong learning within the company while supporting the next generation of leaders in the baking industry. In recognition of his contributions to the baking industry, John was inducted into the Baking Hall of Fame by the American Society of Bakers and Engineers in 2021. He also served the state of Indiana after being appointed by Governor Mike Pence to serve on the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. While John’s professional accomplishments were many, those closest to him knew that his faith and family were at the center of his life. He cherished Bible Study Fellowship and worshiped at The Chapel and Wawasee Lakeside Chapel. He was quietly generous and found joy in serving others through organizations including the Euell Wilson Center, Women’s Care Center, and Ratio Christi. John enjoyed spring breaks in Florida, trips to Maine, his ’61 Corvette, and working on projects at the lake. He appreciated the simple pleasures of life, but most of all, he loved his family. His greatest legacy will not be measured solely by the company he helped build, but by the family he loved, the people he encouraged, the lives he touched, and the values he carried with him throughout his life. “John Popp believed that success was built on people,” said Rick Brown, Chief Customer Officer. “He cared deeply about our employees, our customers, our communities, and the generations of families who have made Aunt Millie’s a trusted name. His leadership was defined by humility, kindness, and an unwavering commitment to doing what was right.” John’s passing leaves a tremendous loss for the Popp family, the Aunt Millie’s family, and the many people and organizations whose lives he touched. While the company mourns his loss, Aunt Millie’s leadership team remains committed to carrying forward the mission, values, and legacy John championed throughout his life. Daily operations will continue uninterrupted as the company moves forward under its established leadership plan. The Popp family extends its heartfelt appreciation for the many expressions of sympathy and support received during this difficult time. Memorial service information will be shared at a later date. About Aunt Millie’s Bakeries Founded in 1901 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Aunt Millie’s Bakeries is one of the largest family-owned bakeries in the Midwest, serving customers across six states with fresh bread, buns, rolls, bagels, and other baked goods. For more than a century, the company has remained committed to quality, innovation, and serving the communities it calls home.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2026 Media Contact Information: Michael Korman, highway commissioner North Township Road District (847) 728-7055 mike.korman@northfieldtownship.com
Northfield Township Road District’s Phase II project placed in Group 1, the top tier, of MWRD’s 2026 Stormwater Partnership Program; construction could begin as early as 2027
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