Adalbert Edward "Bert" Toepel Jr.

Bert Toepel was born on January 18, 1929, in Colville, WA, 40 miles from the border with Canada, where his father worked out of nearby Addy for a short time as an independent small sawmill owner. After the onset of the Great Depression, his father gained employment with Northwest Magnesite Company in Chewelah, WA, where the new family established its permanent residence. Growing up in a small town in eastern Washington, Bert had the opportunity to be independent at an early age, sometimes disappearing into the hills for the day with his granddad's dog as a companion. He joined Boy Scouts when he was 12, leading to a lifetime love of outdoor adventure. From his boyhood, Bert planned to be a professional soldier and, thanks to the advice of an uncle, was influenced to seek an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point.

After graduating from Chewelah High School, Bert attended one year at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, to better prepare for the academic rigor at West Point. While at Gonzaga, he spent weekends at home in Chewelah, where he had met his future wife, Mildred Foege, in band class in high school. He was admitted to West Point in 1948 and graduated as a second lieutenant of artillery in 1952. Bert and Mildred were married 12 days after his graduation and, shortly thereafter, were off to his first assignment at Fort Bliss, TX. It was their first of 26 moves in their 27 years in military service.

Bert had a varied career in the Army with air defense artillery, field artillery, aviation, staff, research and development, and educational assignments. He was a master aviator and qualified on many fixed wing airplanes and helicopters, specializing in instrument flight as an instrument flight examiner. His Army flight training qualified him for an FAA Commercial Pilot License in both airplanes and helicopters under instrument as well as visual flight conditions. He served in Korea (1954-1955) as a field artillery battery commander for the 7th Infantry Division, and two tours in Vietnam (1967-1968 and 1970-1971) with the First Cavalry Division: first as a G-2 (Intelligence) officer and second as Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 20th Artillery (Aerial Rocket Artillery). Other assignments included Commander of US Army Dugway Proving Ground, UT; System Manager, Copperhead (laser-guided artillery round); and student assignments at the Army's Command and General Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He attended two years as a student at the Georgia Institute of Technology (1958-1960), earning a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering and a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering.

As an Army helicopter pilot, Bert pulled another pilot from a burning helicopter in Alabama and helped rescue climbers from Mt. McKinley (later renamed Denali). Bert's military awards include two Legion of Merits, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Star Medals, a Soldier's Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, 35 Air Medals, and three Commendation Medals, plus numerous campaign medals for Korea and Vietnam, Master Army Aviator Badge, and Army General Staff Badge.

After retiring to Eugene in 1979, Bert attended Lane Community College intending to become a cabinetmaker. Due to a depression in the timber industry, he altered his plans and served nine years as director of the Lane Memorial Blood Bank (now Bloodwork's Northwest) before entering the ranks of the formally retired.

Boy Scouting was a major part of Bert's life, as he was a participating member for over 70 years, earning the rank of Eagle with Silver & Bronze Palms, then volunteering service as Cubmaster, Scoutmaster and numerous troop and council committees wherever he and his family were living. Later years included training events and activities for adult leaders. In 1983, the Oregon Trail Council recognized Bert's contributions with the Silver Beaver Award, the highest volunteer award given by a local Boy Scout council.

Bert personified much of what he learned in a lifetime of Scouting. He was loyal, kind, honest and loving. He was cheerful, friendly and helpful. He was the ultimate planner whose motto was "plan the work and work the plan." He lived life as an optimist, something that helped him through deployments to Korea and Vietnam, especially the 12 to 16 month separations from his family. His philosophy was that he-like any of us-could make the world a better place, and he acted on that daily. Bert never passed a person in distress without offering help. His family remembers numerous car trips that were temporarily delayed en route as Bert pulled over to check on someone. We will never know all the people whose lives he touched.

Among his many interests, Bert had a love of music. He variously played violin, bugle, trumpet, harmonica, banjo, and aspired to learn the bagpipes though the latter foray was brief. In high school he used his earnings as a stockboy at Safeway to invest in vinyl records, such as Louis Armstrong and other horn players. Bert also had a sly sense of humor and relished a particularly good prank. He enjoyed life and sought to help others enjoy it too. He believed certain experiences were life-shaping, such as the epic 3-week backpacking trip to Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, NM, shared by Bert and son Steve's troop in 1973 to earn the 50 Mile award. Bert and Steve also shared an Honor Flight experience to Washington D.C. in 2019, which was deeply moving for them both.

Followi ng his military retirement, Bert became a life member of the Military Officers Association of America (Emerald Empire Chapter of MOAA), The American Legion (Post 3), and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW Post 293) and attended meetings regularly, enjoying the camaraderie and shared experience of other veterans. He was also active as a Rotarian through Eugene Southtowne Club of Rotary International for 38 years, selling countless Duck Race tickets and working through Rotary on construction of home projects for Habitat for Humanity in central Lane County. For ten years he was a dedicated Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for the Lane County Juvenile Court. He also spent a number of his later years as a volunteer for Food for Lane County through Emmaus Lutheran Church until the pandemic restricted his age group from such services. Wherever there was a Lutheran church in the many places the family lived, including Eugene, Bert became actively involved, even helping to build churches in Alabama and Alaska.

At age 65, Bert joined forces with an experienced carpenter and from 1994 to 1996 built a home in the hills of South Eugene to enjoy with Mildred in their autumn years. At the age of 85, he made the difficult decision with Mildred to leave their home and move to nearby Cascade Manor in 2015. Ever the consummate planners, the two of them did not want the other to have to downsize and make the difficult move to a retirement community on their own. In true partnership, they took their last move together. Their move was made easier by the assistance of their son, daughter, and granddaughters Kelsey and Ab igail, who not only helped with the physical sorting and moving but also enjoyed hearing stories from family history as the move unfolded.

Bert served as a member of the Cascade Manor community for a decade, volunteering in various capacities. He was probably best known for his posting of American flags in the courtyard of the 29th Place Apartments on national holidays. As a 27-year veteran of an earlier era, he was warmed by the support offered by the residents of Cascade Manor.

Throughout his life, Bert shared small joys with big benefits-chocolate at every opportunity, baking and sharing cookies and coffeecakes, having fresh corn and tomatoes as often as possible in the summer (ME & Moore was a favorite outing), and relaxing with a big bowl of popcorn and Pepsi with his family, a joy he learned in childhood from his own father. Prior to his sudden death attributed to pneumonia, Bert enjoyed a week packed with his favorite things including Swedish pancakes with family at the Original Pancake House, dominoes with the grandchildren, popcorn with his children, and an extended Thanksgiving with his family. Most of all, Bert loved sharing time with his best friend Mil, his family and his friends. Our family is most fortunate that Bert and Mil found each other nearly 80 years ago and forged a lifetime of love and trust.

Bert was preceded in death by his parents (Adalbert and Edith Toepel of Chewelah), and his younger sisters Jean Schwantz (Chewelah) and Susan Alby (Lincoln, NE). Survivors include his best friend and wife of 73 years, Mildred; daughter Kathryn (Rick Minor) of Eugene, and son Steven of Port Ludlow, WA; grandchildren, James Toepel of Seattle, Christen Miller (Patrick) and their daughter Aven of Lopez Island, WA, Kelsey Minor (Vishwa Padaraju) of West Seattle, and Abigail Minor (Alex Golbek) of Kenmore, WA. As Bert liked to say, "life with grandchildren is always great!"

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bert's memory to causes he held dear, including the Pacific Crest Council of the Boy Scouts of America, CASA of Lane County (to support volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children in foster care), Rotary Foundation (to help improve world health and education and alleviate poverty), and Habitat for Humanity of Central Lane (to support the building of affordable homes for hardworking local families).

A military burial was held Dec ember 2025, at Willamette National Cemetery east of Portland OR A memorial service will be held January 10, 2026, at p.m. at Emmaus Lutheran Church, 1250 W. 18th Avenue in Eugene. All are welcome.