John Thomas Popielarski

John is survived by his wife Laura (Saxton); their children, John Patrick (12) and Scarlett Rose (11) ; his parents, Stan and Kathi Popielarski of Endicott, NY and Sarasota, FL; his sister, Jennifer Popielarski-Hoover and her family of Spring, TX; his father-in-law, Russ Saxton of Irons, MI; his brother-in-law Patrick Saxton of Ludington, MI; and numerous extended family members.

John was born on March 23, 1972, in Syracuse, NY and was gifted to Kathi & Stan Popielarski. He graduated from Union Endicott High School in 1991. He served in the United States Army from 1993 until 1996 and was stationed at Fort Drum in New York, 10th Mountain Division. John graduated from Washtenaw Community College and then attended Michigan State University, where he graduated with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 2001 and a Master of Science in RF Engineering in 2003. He spent his entire academic career at Michigan State working at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory and now what is the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). He was an internationally known authority on superconducting radio frequency cavity design and operations, having authored many research articles and traveled around the world to speak on the topic.

While at Michigan State, he met his wife and best friend, Laura. John and Laura were inseparable since they met, living every moment together, laughing every day together, and loving beyond words each day. They even would wear matching T-shirts (from different road races or concerts) to work together to share their commitment. John proposed to Laura on her birthday, July 7th, 2007 on the banks of the Little Manistee River. They married in 2008 at the White Pine Village Chapel in Ludington, Michigan. The Popielarski's welcomed their son John Patrick in 2009 and their daughter Scarlett Rose in 2011. John cherished his children and was a devoted father and husband. As a family they enjoyed spending their summers and weekends on the Little Manistee River, at their vacation home, the Pop Inn. John and his family made so many happy, loving and special memories together at the Pop Inn. Most often you would find John on the river fishing (not catching), heartily laughing around the camp fire, hiking or biking the North Country Trail, leading inner tubing or kayaking on the Little Man, grilling steaks, or doing a new construction project. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved sharing The Pop Inn with family and friends.

Services are scheduled for Monday, November 21, 2022, at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home in East Lansing, MI beginning with the viewing at 1:00pm EST and the remembrance service at 3:00pm EST. All are welcome to attend and celebrate John’s life. Condolence messages and memories for the family can be uploaded at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/east-lansing-mi/john-popielarski-11017055

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