"However, Georg's aspirations for the position of first vice district governor were thwarted when it came to light at the 2011 district convention, that he'd not previously held the board positions required to afford him eligibility to hold the office.
"Undeterred he went on to be elected on to the district cabinet in order to be able to proceed upwards, to achieve his ambitions."
Mr Popow often told the Dannevirke News, working as a volunteer within our community had been easy "if you care about the people and our district".
A former zone chairman of Lions, Mr Popow held a number of offices at Dannevirke Lions Club, including president for two years, but at the heart of everything was his desire to help others, especially the young. It was his passion for the young people in Dannevirke which burned brightly for Mr Popow who believed putting the effort in, even behind the scenes, was always rewarding. In 2012 he was appointed Lions Opportunities for Youth chairman for New Zealand, giving him the chance to promote a young leader's service awards programme trialled in the United States.
He put his energy behind a vast array of youth activities, from a peace poster competition, to a talent extravaganza and youth speech competition.
A volunteer with Dannevirke Lions for more than 25 years, Mr Popow said he loved the people and the district and tried to live up to the Lions Club motto, "we serve". Mr Popow said he'd tell people from out of town they could easily tell if someone was from Dannevirke because they'd be pushing a wheelbarrow.
"They'd ask, "why a wheelbarrow?' and I'd say it was because their hearts were so big, they needed that wheelbarrow to carry it around," he told the Dannevirke News.
Mr Popow said he loved living in Dannevirke because people here were so generous.
And in May 2011 Mr Popow said he'd reached "the Everest of them all" when he was overwhelmed by the generosity of an unknown benefactor who donated a large sum of money to the families of four sick children he'd been fundraising for.
For three years he also co-ordinated the Lions Relay for Life team but had stepped away to concentrate on helping the Cancer Society's Dannevirke support group.
"His support for the Relay for Life was legendary," Mr Holmes said. "Georg went on to raise record amounts for cancer research."
A long-time outdoor bowler, Mr Popow also served as chairman of Bowls Hawke's Bay and youth coach.
He played for the Norsewood Club where he encouraged young people to take up the sport.
When the club had to close in 2012, after 64 years, he said it was "a bit like losing a relative".
Although he hadn't been involved for a number of years because of ill-health, Mr Popow was proud of the club which had a reputation for some of the best natural greens in Hawke's Bay and he often told the story of a groundsman, so fanatical, members reckoned he manicured the greens with a toothbrush.
In 2012, as chairman of the Dannevirke Information Centre Mr Popow challenged Tararua District Council's proposal to relocate the centre to the library. He was delighted when people power won the day, after he and his team gathered more than 700 signatures forcing the council to change its plans.
A generous supporter of the Dannevirke News, Mr Popow would frequently ring in with Lions Club news.
The weekend before his death he'd been in Rotorua with an all-women Lions Club to help with their inaugural book sale.
"It was 35 ladies and me," he told the Dannevirke News the day before his death.
"It was exhilarating to watch the girls get it right and for me to be in amongst it."
Mr Popow was delighted the Rotorua women had raised between $10,000 and $11,000.
"They were on to a winner and the sale had gone beyond what they or I had ever dreamed."
That pride and satisfaction in helping others achieve was the mark of Georg Popow.
Mr Popow is survived by his wife Yvonne, son and daughter-in-law Shaun and Jess and grandchildren Braydn and Jorjye. A celebration of Georg's life will be held tomorrow at The Hub in Dannevirke at 11am.
