Lucille A. Tope 1919 - 2009

POPENHAGEN, VOSHELL, TOPE, EARLE

Posted By: Nancy (email)
Date: 9/24/2009 at 20:20:10

Funeral services for Lucille A. Tope, 89, of West Union, Iowa, were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at West Union United Methodist Church. The Rev. Scott Keele Kober officiated.

Organist Steve Story and soloist Dr. Wayne Bicknese provided music.

Interment was in the West Union Cemetery. Casket bearers were Robert Earle, Nick Earle, Jordan Earle, Brett Barber, Joe Earle, Chad Tope, and Jordan Dirks.

Burnham-Wood Funeral Home, West Union, handled the arrangements.

Lucille's death from complications of a recent stroke occurred Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, at Palmer Lutheran Health Center, West Union.

Born Dec. 9, 1919, on a farm between Wadena and Fayette, Lucille Arlene (Popenhagen) Tope was the daughter of Otto and Grace (Voshell) Popenhagen.

After her graduation as valedictorian from Fayette High School, she attended Upper Iowa College for two years and earned her teaching certificate. Her first job was at Orange Township in Waterloo.

On Feb. 3, 1941, Lucille married Harold Tope at the United Methodist Church parsonage in West Union. Three children were born to this union.

The couple farmed near Hawkeye, and Lucille taught language arts for 16 years at North Junior High School in West Union. The couple retired from farming in about 1980 and moved into West Union.

Lucille and Harold enjoyed square dancing and belonged to the Swinging Squares for 20 years. Lucille also enjoyed camping, fishing, playing cards (especially "Pepper"), and being around people.

She was recently honored for her 50 years of dedication to the United Methodist Church.

Her parents and her husband, Harold (in 2000), preceded her in death.

Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Earle of Grundy Center; two sons, Roger (Margaret) Tope of Marion and Ronald (Janice) Tope of Montezuma; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Dale Popenhagen of Oelwein and Duane Popenhagen of Brooklyn; nieces and nephews. 

Fayette County Union - September 23, 2009