Community remembers Wolper’s legacy of service

Emily Kinder Wolpers died Monday, April 29, after a short illness, leaving her family, friends and her beloved community in shock.

She grew up the daughter of a publisher whose family owned and operated the Daily American Republic for 72 years until its sale in 1988. Wolpers’ retirement goal was to return to her hometown Poplar Bluff and give back.

She returned in 2006 to buy and restore a historic home she had wanted since high school, then she began what would be decades of community service as a member and chair of numerous boards.

The community’s response to the 79-year-old’s death includes descriptions like an amazing public servant, selfless volunteer, real, passionate supporter, and a servant who cared about the community.

Kathern Harris and Wolpers volunteered on a project dear to them both — Wheatley Historical Preservation Association, Inc. and the Garfield Historical District.

“Emily was definitely a friend,” said Harris. “I could share conversations of a serious nature, laughs about newly found garden experiences, or reveal life disappointments. Emily was aware of others’ passions. She was a generous supporter of Succeeding in School tutoring program. We will remember Emily, but life will not be the same without her touch.”

When Councilman Robert Smith heard of her death, he called her “a wonderful community worker. She will be missed.”

Benefiting the community was her chief goal. City Clerk Lori Pelps said Wolpers served on the Historic Preservation Commission, Tree Advisory Board and Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc. boards for several terms, as well as chairing each group.

“Emily was a great community leader,” recalled Mark Massingham, a former city manager who now serves on the council. “Her service to the city of Poplar Bluff by chairing the historic preservation commission for many years and other interests in her hometown was outstanding. She worked very hard to protect our neighborhood and the city as a whole. She will definitely be missed by many. Prayers for her family.”

City Manager Matt Winters recounted, “Ms. Wolpers was such an amazing public servant. She selflessly volunteered time and energy to improve our community and the lives of those living in Poplar Bluff. She was passionate about Downtown Poplar Bluff and preserving the history of our town. I first met Emily when we served as mentors for the school-based mentoring program where she also poured her time and resources into positively impacting young people. Her mark has been left on many projects throughout Poplar Bluff, and her servant spirit will be greatly missed.”

David Boyer worked with Wolpers on community projects before he was elected to the city council.

“Emily continued the legacy of her family in making our town the great place to live that it is today,” said Boyer as he shared his feelings about her and her work. “Emily’s love for this town and her passion for protecting and improving our historic areas and homes has inspired me to continue this work. We can honor her by continuing to support the people and improve all the things she loved about Poplar Bluff.”

Providing educational and cultural opportunities locally were important to Wolpers.

Three Rivers College President Dr. Wesley Payne said, “Emily Kinder Wolpers was an unwavering advocate for the college, passionately supporting our fine arts programs and the Patrons of the Arts. She rarely missed an event or performance. Emily’s dedication to the arts enriched the college and our community. She will be profoundly missed. Such a sweet person; I will truly miss her. “

Poplar Bluff Library Director Shannon Midyett recalled, “I worked closely with Emily for many years on the Book in the Bluff Committee. She was awe-inspiring — incredibly intelligent, capable, and full of unwavering commitment. She was endlessly generous to her family, friends, community, and fellow man. She simply radiated with graciousness and dignity. She leaves behind big shoes to fill. Her absence will be keenly felt for many, many years to come.”

Wolpers’ pastor the Rev. John Gregory praised her as “a great lady, and it was a privilege to be her pastor.”

Gregory said, “I’m sad I only got to be her pastor for about nine months. I am sad I didn’t get to be your pastor longer. Emily was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church here in Poplar Bluff, and she served on our church council, our endowment committee and our finance committee.”

Gregory explained Wolpers helped Cynthia Gonzalez, the church’s current office manager, learn the ropes. “Cynthia is very, very appreciative of Emily and all the help she gave overseeing the church finances,” he said.

The pastor continued, “Emily, was a great help to me personally. Along with her cousin, Kathy Sanders, Emily set up 10 different small groups, we called them get-acquainted groups when I started at the church July 1. In my first two months she spearheaded, along with her cousin, putting together all the small groups the church did so I could see people face-to-face in smaller numbers where I could learn their names better. They could share their hopes and dreams for the church. Emily, along with Kathy’s help, set up all of those and was such a great help to me. She was really a blessing to my wife and I to quickly become a part of the church here.”

Linda Bloodworth Thomason grew up with Emily and her sister, Mary, and was saddened by her death.

Bloodworth Thomason recalled, “Emily always reminded me of the kindest and most reliable woman in a Jane Eyre novel She was so unfailing well-dressed and well-behaved, with beautiful manners. But that doesn’t mean she was prim — or proper. She was also imbued with a sort of quiet, steady joie de vivre, along with the loudest laugh if you said something that she thought was wickedly funny. And then she would make you repeat it to at least eight other people.”

Describing her as “the siren who inspired me to move to California, where she became the generous Founding Mother and Brilliant Sherpa to many of the Poplar Bluff girls who followed her there after college,” Bloodworth Thomason said, “I cannot overstate her influence or how much she was loved and admired. Her sophistication was contagious. An avid traveler, adventuress and culture seeker, she insisted on exposing new arrivals to the best bookstores, art museums, vintage movie houses and most especially anywhere Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor or Carole King were playing.”

Bloodworth Thomason said, “Her legacy is deep and wide. Truthfully, Emily was the sort of person who, even if l you hadn’t seen her in years, you would still cry on the day you found out that she died. And that has certainly been the case with me. She was just that special.”

Wolpers’ obituary appears on today’s Record page, A4. Her visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church followed by the funeral at noon.