A Legacy of Construction Management

The story of Centurion starts with Walter H. Poppe over 50 years ago. Walter was born on October 27th, 1932 in Hackensack, New Jersey. He was the first son to Louise (Hauck) Poppe and Herman C. Poppe. Walter spent his childhood in Lyndhurst. He served in the Air Police division of the United States Air Force during the Korean War (Jun 25, 1950 – Jul 27, 1953). He married the love of his life, Marjorie A. Tauber, also of Lyndhurst, on November 26, 1955 in Elkton, Maryland.

During his twenties and thirties, Walter worked as an over-the-road truck driver (also known as a long-haul trucker) for Mohegan Lines of Carlstadt. To earn extra money to help raise his new family, whenever he was not driving, Walter learned various trades in the construction industry in New Jersey. Eventually, Walter and Marjorie were able to save enough money to move their young family to Waldwick, New Jersey in 1964. Now 32-years-old, Walter started to understand that he had a true passion for building and construction. He was excited by the idea of working with his hands and building something out of nothing. He found himself taking on larger jobs with more responsibilities as set out to establish himself as the best General Contractor in NJ. The work was hard, but it gave him the opportunity to make more money and be closer to home for his family.

On a mission to leave a lasting mark on the world and a legacy to pass down to his children and future generations, in 1972, he founded Walter H. Poppe General Contractors, Inc of Ho-Ho-Kus and Franklin Lakes, a full service construction company offering contractor management services. Eventually, Walter’s sons would all participate in the family business; and throughout the 1980s, Walter’s son, Glen Poppe, would help the business rise to even greater heights. Walter H. Poppe General Contractors, Inc continued to serve New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut for the next 35 years, specializing in full-service residential and commercial construction projects, including custom builds, renovations, additions, project management services, field supervision and value engineering.

In 2010, Glen’s son and Walter’s grandson, Christopher, a graduate of Villanova’s prestigious College of Engineering, would found Centurion. After having worked with his father and grandfather in their family business as an Estimator and Junior Executive, Christopher would continue his career in construction as President of Centurion.

At the age of 84, and after successfully completing hundreds of construction projects and establishing one of the best construction companies in NJ, Walter H. Poppe passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 12, 2017 – leaving behind eight wonderful grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a Legacy of Excellence in NJ Construction.