Jerry Poppenhouse, 84, of Chandler, Ariz., passed away Aug. 14, 2023, at his residence.
He was born July 28, 1939, to Armine and Ester Poppenhouse.
Jerry grew up in Owensville and was Troop 22s first Eagle Scout. After high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and eventually landed at the Kansas City Arts Institute to pursue his artistic passions. After graduation in 1967, Jerry moved to Bartlesville, Okla. to start a new job with Phillips Petroleum with his wife Beth. He was one of the first graphic designers to use photography as his main artistic medium. In his 27 years with Phillips, Jerry became one of the most widely traveled photographers in the company’s history, going through at least three fully stamped passports; every stamp recalling a new series of wild adventures.
In 1994, Jerry left Phillips to become the Director of Publications for Oklahoma State University in Okmulgee and taught photography and graphic design in the visual communication department. He had a passion for teaching and enjoyed helping students with their portfolios and teaching them the Art of Seeing. To help his students see beauty in everyday surroundings, he gave them an assignment to shoot an entire roll of film in their bathroom where each shot had to be unique.
Jerry loved people and made friends with everyone. It didn’t matter if they were random strangers he met during his travels or famous names like George Foreman, they all became instant friends. In his retirement years, both in Bartlesville and in Arizona, he spent his time fishing, painting, teaching photography at local high schools, giving presentations about his profession or just about every holiday in the year. He loved helping people and was always volunteering his time for photo shoots, editing photos and providing mentoring to future photographers and artists. He loved to create books on Blurb to share personal or family memories with the world. Some of those memories included a trip to Africa with his son Kent and his daughter in-law Emily, and chasing after his grandson, Finn, in California on a sea life adventure with his son Kurt and his daughter in-law Sue. He lives on in our memories, his art and photography, and the crazy stories many of us remember from his various adventures.
There will be a Celebration of Life event, Sunday, Oct. 8, in Barltesville, Okla. For information contact Kurt at kpoppenhouse@me.com or Kent at kentpop@yahoo.com.
