function group_query($args, &$gc)
{
    $args['post_parent'] = get_the_ID();
    $query = new WP_Query($args);
    if ($query->have_posts()) {
        while ($query->have_posts()) {
            $query->the_post();
            process_people_page_post(get_post(), $gc);
            group_query($args, $gc);
        }
    }
}
<?php

include 'research_functions.php';
get_header();
?>

	<div id="primary" class="content-area">
		<div id="content" class="site-content" role="main">
		<div id="people-header">I-STARs</div>
			<div class="istar-wrapper" id="people-wrapper">
			<?php 
$args = array('post_type' => 'page', 'orderby' => 'menu_order', 'order' => 'ASC');
$groupcount = 0;
group_query($args, $groupcount);
?>
			<script type="text/javascript">
				$(".person-popup").hide();
				$(".person-popup").prependTo("#page"); // immune to bad z-index effects
			</script>
			</div></div>

		</div><!-- #content -->
	</div><!-- #primary -->

<?php 
get_sidebar();
get_footer();