Elvin Andrew "Al" Toppin

CLEAR LAKE - Elvin "Al" Andrew Toppin, 79, 1924 N. Shore Drive, Clear Lake, died Thursday (Nov. 5, 2009) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City.
A funeral service will be held 1:30 p.m. Monday at Eden Presbyterian Church, 3105 Glass Ave., rural Rudd, with the Rev. John Bates officiating. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Highway 122 W., Mason City. Military honors will be provided by the Clear Lake VFW.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake.
Memorials may be made to the Elvin A. Toppin Memorial Fund to be given to Eden Presbyterian Church and the Clear Lake VFW.
Elvin was born Oct. 8, 1930, in Winnebago, Minn., the son of Harlan Clare and Doris A. (Scott) Toppin. He graduated from Ventura High School in 1948. He farmed with his brother Wayne in the Ventura area.
He married Donna Jean Brandau on Sept. 9, 1950, and began farming in the Rudd area. Elvin served in the Army during the Korean War. After an honorable discharge he came back to farming. Donna Jean died in 1978.
He married Joyce Fulk on Jan. 14, 1984, at Eden Presbyterian Church. In 1993 Elvin retired from farming and he and Joyce moved to Clear Lake.
He was a member of Eden Presbyterian Church where he held numerous positions, former member of the Rudd Elevator where he served on the Elevator Board and was also named "Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year" by Floyd County.
After retiring they delivered Winnebago's, went to antique auctions, spent part of their winters in Florida where they loved to walk along the beach and hunt for shells.
He also enjoyed golfing, bowling, traveling, reading, dancing and playing cards. He was on the Canteen Committee and the Clear Lake VFW Honor Guard.
Elvin is survived by his wife, Joyce Toppin, Clear Lake; two sons, Brad Toppin and his wife, Linda, Charles City, and Mark Toppin and Mary, Waterloo; three stepsons, Bob Fulk, Rudd, Dennis Fulk, Rudd, and James Fulk and Candy, Rock Falls; two brothers, Wayne Toppin and his wife, Ardith, Clear Lake, and Jim Toppin and his wife Beverly, Phoenix, Ariz.; sister, Verla Stapleton, and her husband, Mike, San Antonio, Texas; 10 grandchildren, Hollie Toppin, Erin Sansgard, Timothy Toppin, Patrick (Andrea) Toppin, Jennifer Fulk, Michael Shanahan, Noelle Toppin, Jacob (Tabitha) Toppin, Robbie Fulk and Jon Esparza; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Elvin was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Donna Jean.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 641-357-2193. www.colonialchapels.com