Warner Bailey Poppleton

Warner Bailey Poppleton died in Idaho Falls, Idaho on Monday, October 22 from complications of a hemorrhagic stroke following treatment for a heart attack.

Warner was born at home August 5, 1934 in Wellsville, Utah to Tom and Josie Poppleton.  He married Karen Ann Petersen, April 16, 1964 in the Salt Lake City Utah Temple.

He graduated from South Cache High School in 1952 and the following year joined the US Navy where he was stationed mostly in Jacksonville, Florida 1953-1957.  Upon discharge he took advantage of the GI bill and started school at Brigham Young University then transferred to Utah State University from which he graduated with a BS in Wildlife Biology in 1962. 

After working for Utah Fish and Game for a short time, Warner applied for a job in Arizona in the Game and Fish Department and worked there in various positions for 27 years until 1989 when he retired.  He then took a position with Arizona State Parks for another 6 years before retiring again. These two jobs allowed him to do the thing he loved the most—hunting and fishing.  Warner was an accomplished fly fisherman. 

During his time working on the Kaibab near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon he met Karen where they began their courtship.  After marrying they eventually settled in Glendale, Arizona and raised two girls Kara Elizabeth and Kristen J’An.  After retirement they moved back to Utah to be close to their grandchildren.

They served two missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the first for 18 months to Harare Zimbabwe and the second for 24 months to Bangalore India where they made wonderful friends.  After Karen’s death in 2012, he moved to Star Valley Ranch, Wyoming because he “wanted to live in a place he would be useful”. He was very excited after his arrival to know a temple would be built in Star Valley.  He was an ordinance worker in the Star Valley Temple for two years.  He loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Warner was a dedicated home teacher.  He served faithfully in many positions in the Church including Young Men’s President, Stake Young Men’s President, High Priest Group Leader, Stake Missionary, Elder’s Quorum President, Bishop, and other various callings.  The latest was as a Webelos leader.  He loved the boys.

He is survived by his children, Kara Sherman (Jonathan), Kristen Sagers (Erich), grandchildren Adam (Kelly), Emily, Molly and Matthew Sherman and Sage, Hazel, Ezra, and Max Sagers.  Also, sisters Mary Jo Jeppesen (Charles) and Vonda Eliason (Jonathan).

He was preceded in death by his parents Thomas Barker Poppleton and Johanna Spence “Josie” Bailey and brothers Thomas LaVar Bailey Poppleton, Lou Reed Bailey Poppleton (Elsie), and Roy Bailey Poppleton (Darlene).

Warner’s funeral was held Saturday, October 27, 2018 at the Cedar Creek LDS Ward Chapel in Freedom, Wyoming with interment following in Wellsville, Utah.

The family would like to thank the medical staff of the ICU at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for the care and treatment of Warner during his short illness.  Also, we appreciate the many ward members, friends and neighbors in Star Valley he came to know over the 6 years he lived there for their friendship, care and love shown to our father.  We will all miss this good man.