Gerhard Joseph Poppel, adventurer at heart

Gerhard Joseph Poppel, born in Germany and a lifelong citizen of the world, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. He lived boldly, thought deeply, and moved through life with determination and curiosity.

Raised in Germany, Gerhard carried with him a European sensibility shaped by discipline, resilience and a respect for precision. He was a man who believed in building – building opportunity, building security, building a legacy that would endure beyond him.

An adventurer at heart, Gerhard felt most alive in motion. He found freedom in glider flying, embracing the quiet power of soaring on air currents high above the earth. He explored the depths through scuba diving, equally at home beneath the sea as he was in the sky. Travel was not simply leisure for him – it was expansion. He believed in seeing the world firsthand, learning from it, and experiencing life fully.

At the center of his world was his family.

He is survived by his wife, Valerie; his daughter, Johanna; and his son, Fabian. To them, he was more than a husband and father, he was a force of will, a protector, a provider and a man whose presence shaped the foundation of their lives.

Gerhard believed in strength, independence and personal responsibility. His legacy lives on not only in what he built, but in the character and resolve he instilled in those who carry his name forward.

A memorial service will be held in Delaware in May. A second remembrance will take place in Germany in June, honoring both the country of his birth and the life he built abroad.

He will be remembered for his intensity, his intellect, his adventurous spirit and the enduring impact he had on his family and all who knew him.