Amy Laurena (Alverson) TOPP

TOPP, HAGEN, ALVERSON, AUSTIN, SINRAM

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/9/2016 at 16:53:30

April 22, 1913 --- April 1, 2005

Amy Laurena Topp, 91, of 1804 5th Avenue, N.W., Waverly, Iowa, died on Friday morning, April 1, 2005, at the Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly of natural causes. Amy was born on April 22, 1913 at Dows, Iowa, the daughter of George and Laura (Hagen) Alverson. Amy was baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Dows, Iowa. She graduated from Dows High School in 1931, and then attended Waldorf College in Forest City, graduating in 1934. She began her teaching career in Buckeye, teaching in the elementary grades and high school music three years. She went from Buckeye to the Wellsburg School System also as an elementary teacher and high school music for three years. During this time she was appointed to a Committee of Five in the state to organize the County Educations Councils. She then went to Eldora where she taught for four years after which she was elected Assistant County Superintendent for Hardin County where she served seven years. Amy then went to Mason City as an instructor in the elementary grades where she taught for twenty-five years. During this time she was president of the Mason City Education Association, was appointed to the State Education Council, was Director of the North Central Education Association of Teachers in seventeen counties, and was a life member of the Iowa State Education Association. During summers when she was not teaching, Amy attended classes at Drake University, Luther College, State University of Iowa, and Upper Iowa University where she received her B.A. Degree. Besides her work in the educational field, Amy has been a worker in the church. She was a Sunday Church School teacher for twenty-five years, a member of the church choirs in the towns were she taught and a leader in Bible Study groups for women.

On April 18, 1979, Amy was united in marriage to Rev. Reuben Topp at Immanuel Church of Christ in Clarksville. The couple moved to the Eichhorn Haus in Waverly on April 29, 1999, and on January 5, 2005, Amy became a resident of the Woodland Terrace at the Bartels Home. Amy was active in the AMVETS Auxiliary, where she held several offices. In June of 1989, she was elected State President of the Department of Iowa, and was state officer for six years. Amy was also very active with a number of community groups in both Clarksville and Waverly.

Amy is survived by her husband, Rev. Reuben J. Topp of Waverly; one stepson, Joel and Patt Austin Topp of Winterhaven, Florida; one stepdaughter, Lois and Mike Sinram of Waterloo; step-grandsons, Justin and Meta Topp, Zachary and Joshua Sinram; a step-granddaughter, Mary, and a step-great granddaughter, Talia. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Orien Alverson; one sister, Avonelle; a niece, Norma; and a nephew, James.

Celebration of Life Services will be held on Monday, April 4, 2005, at 10:30 a.m. at Unity Presbyterian Church rural Clarksville, with Pastor Don Feuerhak officiating. Burial will be in Lynwood Cemetery in Clarksville. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly and for an hour before services on Monday at the church. Memorials may be directed to the donor's choice.

http://www.kaisercorson.com/obituary/Amy-Laurena-Topp/Waverly-IA/203558