Steve A. Popovich

Steve A. Popovich, age 83 of the Tellico community in Loudon, passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 22.

Mr. Popovich was preceded in death by his wife, Sherry Popovich; his parents, Alec and Anna Popovich; his brothers, Chuck, Mike, John, and George Popovich; and his sisters, Helen Popovich, Ellen Popovich, Ann Dalsky, Mary Ree, and Polly Cegler.

Mr. Popovich’s survivors include his daughter, Gidget Wagner (Mike), and his granddaughter, Lauren; stepson, Heath Bernston; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Mr. Popovich was born in Mellen, Wis., on Oct. 11, 1941. He graduated from Mellen High School, enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and was stationed in Lemoore, Calif.

He pursued a career with the Federal Aviation Administration, serving as an instructor in radar and computers and as project engineer for the western region, managed long-range radar, and served as system engineer at the Leesburg, Va., Air Route Traffic Control Center.

Mr. and Mrs. Popovich retired to Tellico Village in 2000. Mr. Popovich was an avid golfer and was named player of the year twice. He also was part of computer support for the Tellico Village Computer Club.

Mr. Popovich, a Green Bay Packers fan, was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City. He also was a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus and served as Grand Knight and district deputy.

A funeral Mass for Mr. Popovich was celebrated at St. Thomas the Apostle on Jan. 24. Burial with military honors was Jan. 27 at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery. Donations in Mr. Popovich’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.

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