Brady Poppinga, former linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, lost his son after a severe asthma attack took the young man’s life. The 17-year-old was a player on the varsity football and lacrosse teams at Westlake High School in California.
Julius Poppinga played defensive end and offensive line for the Westlake team and was a prospect for college football programs as the teenager stood a stout 6 foot 1 and weighed in at 220 pounds. The team and the greater school community were shaken by the news of his untimely and early death.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel released an excerpt from a school wide email that Principal Jason Branham used to share his thoughts on the matter. He said, “On behalf of the entire Westlake High School community, we send our deepest condolences to Julius’ family, friends, teammates and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing and interacting with him. At Westlake and throughout CVUSD, one of our greatest strengths is our caring and close community, which makes it all the more important that we continue to support and be there for one another in this incomprehensible time of loss and sadness.”
Westlake’s Twitter account posted a picture from a chilling scene as large swathes of the student body showed up at the football stadium to take part in a candlelit vigil in remembrance of the young Poppinga. The account called that night an “Amazing show of love and support tonight for the Poppinga family from our Warrior community!”
Julius’ sister Jasmine Poppinga also took to her social media to share her thoughts on the passing of her brother and to take a moment to mourn her loss publicly. “Words can not even begin to describe the immense amount of love, kindness, compassion, humor, athleticism, knowledge, trustworthiness, consideration for others, sincerity, loyalty, and friendly characteristics Julius holds,” she said. “He is the best younger brother I could ever ask for. and the most amazing older brother to my younger sisters.”
Jasmine added a final touch to the heartfelt post, saying “I am beyond proud to be his sister and best friend. i miss him more then anyone can ever imagine, but knowing that julius’s lovely soul is in the hands of God comforts me. the way life works through god and our guardian angels is sometimes not the outcome we want or would ever expect.
The young woman was quick to question God’s plan but also quick to note that she still trusts him fully, despite the sadness and grief that she and her family are feeling. She said, “I don’t have the immediate answers as to why something so sudden would happen like this and i don’t know if i ever will have the exact answer. i trust in god, the universe, and all higher powers that julius will be taken care of and will be here to watch and comfort over my family.”
The featured image is a screenshot from an embedded YouTube video.
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