Leo Poppenberg was born in Stillwater, Minnesota in 1881. Mr. Poppenberg came to Bemidji in 1899. Since the age of sixteen, he had worked for the M. & I. railroad.
While driving to his home in Nymore one evening he was an eye witness to the derailment of the engine on the Soo line. Stopping his car, he went to the scene of the accident to determine if anyone had been hurt. He was subject to heart attacks and it is thought that when he left the wrecked train, he did so in order to reach home before being taken ill. He drove the car a short distance toward Nymore, then stopped it and got out to lie on the ground, evidently overcome. He was rushed to the hospital but upon examination, it was found that he had passed away. He died Sept 27, 1933.