Tammy Mae Popken, 56, of rural Akron, Iowa, peacefully acquired her heavenly wings on Monday, February 10, 2025, at the Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center in Carson City, Nevada following a courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 24, 2025, at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Craig, Iowa. Reverend Trish Underberg will officiate. Burial will follow at the Elgin Township Cemetery in Seney, Iowa.  Visitation with the family present will be from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at the Brunsville Legion Hall in Brunsville, Iowa. Visitation will resume during a time of lunch and fellowship at the Brunsville Legion Hall following the committal service.  Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars, Iowa. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials can be made, in care of the family, to the Le Mars Education Enhancement Project (L.E.E.P.), Kirby Place at the Walsh Family Village in Sioux Falls, SD, Prairie Heart Guest House in Sioux Falls, SD, Floyd Valley Healthcare Foundation, or to a favorite charity of your choice.

Tammy Mae Hawkins was the youngest of 3 daughters born to David and Judy (Denniston) Hawkins. She was baptized and confirmed at the Seney Church. She attended school in Le Mars and graduated from Le Mars Community High School in 1986. She attended Nettleton Business College in Sioux Falls, SD, and graduated in May of 1987.

She was united in marriage to Todd Popken on September 19, 1987, at the First United Methodist Church in Le Mars. After Todd completed college, they moved to a farm near Akron, Iowa. She began her 20-year career at the Wells Blue Bunny Corporate Office in Le Mars. In 2008, she became a full-time farm wife.

She was a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Craig, Iowa. Tammy especially enjoyed attending country music concerts, taking tropical vacations, and loved shopping and spending time in Okoboji. She had a great passion for shoes and accounting. Spending time with her friends and family, especially her two sons, Alex and Austin and their families, was her greatest joy.

Survivors include her husband, Todd Popken; a son, Alex (Maria) Popken and their daughter, Denali; a son, Austin (Nicole) Popken; her mother, Judy Hawkins; her sister, Roma Lancaster; her brother, Curtis (Jamie) Hawkins; her father and mother in law, Ron and Linda Popken; two brothers in law, Steve Klein and Matt (Rhonda) Popken; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, David Hawkins; her sister, Bonnie Klein; her brother-in-law, Todd Lancaster; her niece, Samantha Hawkins; her grandparents; and a special friend, Ralph Klemme.

Her family would like to thank Dr. Paul Parmelee, Floyd Valley Healthcare, Prairie Cancer Center, Avera McKennan Hospital, Nevada Center, and Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center care teams for their awesome care and support throughout Tammy's treatments.