Dr. RAY F. TOPLIFF 1884-1951

TOPLIFF, LENNON, GRACE

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 11/24/2007 at 20:16:57

Dr. Ray F. Topliff

Funeral services were held Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the Community Presbyterian Church for Dr. Ray F. Topliff, 67, who passed away at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester on November 21.

The rites were in charge of Rev. Walter T. Martin. Masonic rites were in charge of Ray R. Douglass. Burial was at Decorah.

Dr. Topliff had been a dentist in Postville for 44 years.

Ray F. Topliff, son of John N. and Rachel Topliff, was born May 19, 1884 at the Topliff-Meyer farm two miles west of Postville. He passed away Wednesday, November 21, 1951 at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota at the age of 67 years.

Ray F. Topliff was graduated from the Decorah high school in 1902. He attended Breckenridge college at Decorah. The Northwestern University Dental school of Chicago, Illinois conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1906. Dr. Topliff opened his first office at West Union where he practiced for one year after which he moved to Postville where he gave 44 years of his life to the dental profession.

Dr. Ray F. Topliff was a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon fraternity and the Xi Psi Phi fraternity.

He was married to Josephine Lennon on November 10, 1910 at Decorah.

Many dental organizations elected Dr. Topliff from time to time to positions of honor and trust. He belonged to the following organizations of his profession: American Dental Association, Iowa State Dental Society, Dubuque District Dental Society and the Northeastern Iowa Dental Study Club.

Dr. Topliff was an active and loyal Mason being a member of Brotherly Love Lodge No. 204 of Postville. He served this lodge as Worshipful Master in 1921-1922. He also belonged to the Commandery and King Solomon's Chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Decorah, Iowa.

When the present Postville library was formed, Dr. Topliff was appointed to the library board which he served continuously to the time of his death.

He was a member of the Community Presbyterian church of Postville.

Surviving are his wife, Josephine, one niece, Mrs. Fred Grace of Mason City, two nephews, Lyle Ray Topliff of Mason City, Iowa and Rolo Topliff of Glendale, California.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and one sister.

Dr. Topliff was a man of stalwart character who because of his expertness and proficiency in the dental profession enjoyed a large practice. His patients found him to be a person of honor, thoroughness, integrity and compassion. He gave to his patients excellent care, sound judgment, thoughtful consideration and skilled dental service.

In his fraternal associations he proved to be a loyal, trustworthy, and dependable friend who had many friends in life.

Postville Herald newspaper clipping from my mother's obituary collection.
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