Home > United States of America > Iowa > Fayette County > West Union > West Union Cemetery > Robert Ray Topp

Robert Ray Topp

Birth	:	24 Jan 1925 Sumner, Bremer County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	12 Jun 2002 Twin Lakes, Freeborn County, Minnesota, USA
Burial	:	West Union Cemetery, West Union, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.9611000, -91.8151600
Inscription	:	Married September 1, 1947 Beloved Parents of Gregory and Robyn
Description	:	Funeral services for Bob and Joy Topp were held at 2 p.m. Monday, June 17 at Bethany Lutheran Church, 183 Second Ave. E., Thompson. Visitation was from 3 to 7 p.m. at the church. Winter Funeral Home, Thompson, was in charge of arrangements. Robert Ray "Bob" Topp, beloved husband of Joy, and Joy Eileen Topp, beloved wife of Bob, who were loving life partners, were taken by God in a motor vehicle accident on Wednesday, June 12, 2002. Bob, son of Ernie and Edna (Harding) Topp, was born in Sumner, Iowa, on Jan. 24, 1925. At the age... Read More	Funeral services for Bob and Joy Topp were held at 2 p.m. Monday, June 17 at Bethany Lutheran Church, 183 Second Ave. E., Thompson. Visitation was from 3 to 7 p.m. at the church. Winter Funeral Home, Thompson, was in charge of arrangements. Robert Ray "Bob" Topp, beloved husband of Joy, and Joy Eileen Topp, beloved wife of Bob, who were loving life partners, were taken by God in a motor vehicle accident on Wednesday, June 12, 2002. Bob, son of Ernie and Edna (Harding) Topp, was born in Sumner, Iowa, on Jan. 24, 1925. At the age of 77, Bob had accomplished much during his life. During World War II, he served our country with the U.S. Coast Guard. After service, Bob attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. Bob met Joy Eileen Kelsey at a college dance at UNI, and they were married on September 1, 1947. Throughout their lives, they enjoyed dancing together. During his early years as an educator, Bob taught U.S. History, industrial arts, English and driver's education. The last 22 years of his career, Bob was a high school principal, most of that time serving at Thompson High School until his retirement in 1988. Bob also loved his part-time jobs. He refereed high school basketball games and umpired high school baseball games for many years. At one point in Bob's career, he took a break from teaching and sold crop, hail and life insurance full-time. Even after returning to education and because of Bob's love of selling insurance, he continued to do so on a part-time basis until his death. Bob was an avid sports enthusiast. He particularly loved baseball. Growing up in northeast Iowa, he was ever loyal to his favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cubs. As a young man, Bob played baseball for both State Teachers College and the Sumner Iowa Cubs. Because of his natural athletic abilities in this sport, he was offered a tryout with the Chicago White Sox. He declined this offer, already having a career in education and a young family. Bob loved people and was a ready volunteer for any important community cause. Bob loved having coffee uptown, either in Thompson or Buffalo Center. Because of his outgoing nature, Bob also enjoyed being part of his wife's doll collecting hobby via their membership in the Iowa Kate Shelley Doll Club. He and Joy frequently attended Gaither Brothers' Gospel concerts to celebrate their faith in the Lord. Bob enjoyed singing, had a beautiful tenor voice and was asked on many occasions to sing duets with Joy. Joy, daughter of Charles Johann and Nadine (White) Kelsey, was born in Eldorado, Iowa, on Sept. 21, 1928. At the age of 73, Joy was eternally young and forever an optimist. At an early age, Joy was gifted musically and artistically. In her younger years, she danced, sang and played the violin. She was a music major at the University of Northern Iowa. Joy withdrew from college after she and Bob were married in order to work at the college business office and support Bob as he finished his teaching degree. During the early 1960s, Joy worked for several years as a part-time secretary for the First Presbyterian Church in Marion, Iowa. She was a wonderful homemaker and an accomplished and well-respected doll restorer as well as a self-taught culinary expert. For many years, she held elaborate open houses for the administration and teaching staff of Thompson High School. Joy looked forward to preparing and serving food to her and Bob's close friends whenever they hosted Bridge Club. Joy also entertained civic and social groups at her home whose members were interested in viewing her collection of dolls. She was often invited to speak in front of different audiences on the importance of dolls in our nation's history and on doll collecting and restoration. Joy served as Region 5 district director for the United Federation of Doll Clubs (UFDC) from 1990 to 1995. She was a long-term member of not only the Iowa Kate Shelley Doll Club but also the River City Doll Club of Mason City. She and Bob annually attended the national UFDC Doll Convention held in numerous different cities throughout the United States. Although Joy was urged by family and friends to use her talents of doll restoration for museums, Joy chose to apply her skills restoring dolls strictly for people who wanted to preserve dolls for sentimental reasons. For a few years, Joy served as a member of the board of the Winnebago County Historical Society. She enjoyed decorating and giving tours of "The Mansion" in Forest City. By her friends and family, Joy was known as a complete and "eternal optimist." Even through her recent battle with two different forms of cancer, Joy stayed upbeat. Her positive outlook on life has often served as an inspiration to others going through difficult times. Many frightened and injured animals seemed to seek Joy out. Through the years, Joy rescued, with Bob's patience and help, two poodles and numerous cats. She and Bob were "parents" to three cats, all of whom Joy had nursed back to health after some trauma, injury or illness. Her most recent rescue was that of a totally blind kitten she named Muffin. Bob and Joy are survived by Joy's mother, Nadine Kelsey of West Union, Iowa; a son, Gregory Charles Topp of Watkinsville, Ga.; a daughter, Robyn Rae Callanan of St. Charles, Minn., and grandchildren, Christopher Neal Topp, Gabriele Joy Topp and Tharen Emanuel Callanan. They are also survived by a son-in-law, Kevin Thomas Callanan; a daughter-in-law, Carla Joyce Topp; Bob's two older sisters, Faye Buhrow of Nederland, Texas, and Wanda Kennedy of St. Louis Park, Minn.; and two nephews and two nieces. Bob and Joy were preceded in death by Bob's mother and father; Joy's father, and one of Bob's nieces. Memorials given in honor of Bob's and Joy's lives were forwarded to various cancer research and treatment facilities and animal humane societies. Winter Funeral Home, (641) 584-2520.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Robert Ray Topp's memorial?
Robert Ray Topp's memorial is located at: West Union Cemetery, West Union, Fayette County, USA.
When did Robert Ray Topp death?
Robert Ray Topp death on 12 Jun 2002 in Twin Lakes, Freeborn County, Minnesota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Robert Ray Topp's memorial?
Latitude: 42.9611000
Longitude: -91.8151600

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Joy Eileen Kelsey Topp

(1928 - 2002)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. West Union Cemetery
West Union, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9611000, -91.8151600

2. Mount Calvary Cemetery
West Union, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9300003, -91.7850037

3. Boale Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9935700, -91.8451900

4. Mount Pleasant Cemetery
West Union, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9777985, -91.7647018

5. Butler Cemetery
West Union, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9738910, -91.7501880

6. Pleasant Grove Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9347000, -91.7450027

7. South Windsor Cemetery
Donnan, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9211006, -91.8747025

8. Prairie View Cemetery
Fayette, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8993580, -91.8330000

9. Oak Ridge Cemetery
Auburn Township, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0155983, -91.8683014

10. George Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0346985, -91.7818985

11. Windsor Cemetery
Hawkeye, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9644012, -91.9225006

12. Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Fayette, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8768997, -91.8094025

13. Brainard Cemetery
Brainard, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9341980, -91.7044900

14. Dunham Grove Cemetery
Randalia, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8767014, -91.8458023

15. Hawkeye Cemetery
Hawkeye, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9397011, -91.9357986

16. Nutting Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0306015, -91.7247009

17. Saint Petr Kirchof
Eldorado, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0572014, -91.8352966

18. Bethany Lutheran Church Cemetery
West Union, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0625000, -91.7630997

19. Lima Cemetery
Lima, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8689000, -91.7373000

20. Saint Francis Cemetery
Fayette, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.8511009, -91.8261032

21. Dover Township Cemetery
Dover Township, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0708008, -91.8392029

22. Oak Lawn Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9986000, -91.9666977

23. Pitts Cemetery
Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9900017, -91.9708023

24. Gods Acres Cemetery
Clermont, Fayette County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9925003, -91.6496964