Toppenberg, Elmar – 1919-2008

ADAMS, BARTON, CHALOUPKA, CHRISTIANSEN, CLARK, DAHL, FRY, HARRISON, HEIL, SMITH, STIVERS, TOPPENBERG

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 10/15/2008 at 12:20:39

AMES — Elmar Toppenberg, 89, of Ames died Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008, at Israel Family Hospice House.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Bethesda Lutheran Church with the Rev. Randy Gehring officiating. There was a cremation. Burial will be in the Ames Municipal Cemetery.
Born in Nevada on April 24, 1919, he was the son of Ole & Elnora (Christiansen) Toppenberg.
A 1937 graduate of Nevada High School, Elmar was a mail carrier for 30 years, retiring in 1977. He served for 2 years in the Navy during World War II on the LST #612.
He was united in marriage to Carolyn Beryl Smith in 1937. She died in 1964. He then married C. Caroline Heil Dahl on Oct. 23, 1965, in Ames.
Elmar was a member of Bethesda Lutheran Church where he ushered for 40+ years. He belonged to the American Legion and the Moose Lodge #520 and NARFE. He enjoyed woodworking.
Immediate survivors include his wife, C. Caroline Toppenberg of Ames; his children, Ron Toppenberg of Newton, Judy Harrison of Camp Verde, Ariz., Jerry Dahl of Clinton, Jan Stivers of Tucson, Ariz., Stanly Kay Chaloupka of Loveland, Colo., Christine Dahl of Ames, Cynthia Barton of Ames, Randy Toppenberg of Eagle Grove, Debbie Fry of Ames and Nick Dahl of Memphis, Tenn.; his sisters, Mildred Clark of Boone and Olga Marie Adams of Loveland, Colo.; 26 grandchildren; and 39 great-grandchildren.
Elmar was preceded in death by his first wife, Carolyn; his parents; brothers, Fritz, Otto and Hugo; son, Jackie Lee (Stanly Kay’s twin).
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Bethesda Lutheran Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Opportunity Village or Hospice House.
Source: Newton(IA) Daily News; Tuesday, October 7, 2008