Nicholas (Nick/Joe) Joseph Topf, 95 of Carroll, Iowa passed away on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 A.M. on Friday, January 5, 2024 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll with Fr. Patrick Behm as Celebrant. Lectors for the Mass will be James Topf and Chuck Busch. Gift bearers will be the Busch family. Music for the Mass will be by Kate Cuddy and Cantor will be Kathleen Macke. Casket bearers will be Jay Ford, Michael Ford, Chuck Busch, Austin Busch, Ryan Halvorsen. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion.
Visitation will be held at St. Lawrence Catholic Church from 9:30 A.M. – 10:45 A.M. on Friday prior to the Mass.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Stephen Center, 2723 Q Street, Omaha, NE, a nonprofit organization that Nick was passionate about.
Nick Topf was born on June 30, 1928 to Lucy (Lenz) and Nicholas William Topf on their farm outside of Salix, IA. Nick had seven brothers and two sisters. Nick grew up on the farm and did the usual chores with his siblings. In his teen years Nick was awarded a Grand Champion, a Reserve Champion, and three Blue Ribbons at the Tri-State Exhibition for his prize Duroc swine during high school. After Nick graduated from St Joseph’s High School in 1946, he entered the US Army’s Signal Corp where he served for 2 years in the 25th Division, 27th Regiment in Japan after WW II. After his service, he attended Iowa State College in Ames, IA to study Agriculture. After a year in college he met his future wife, Anna Marie Geeron in Sioux City. They married on December 27, 1951 and then settled in student housing in Ames. Soon after, they started their family and Nick took a job as a lineman for Northwestern Bell Telephone in Sioux City, IA and later worked in sales. Nick and Ann were blessed with three children. Later they were blessed with 4 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. In 1972 Nick’s work with Northwestern Bell moved them to Urbandale, Iowa where he worked in the Accounting Center. In 1980 they were transferred back to Sioux City, where Nick finally retired from the phone company in 1982. Before Nick retired from Northwestern Bell Telephone, he had learned the tax preparation business. In the late 70’s Nick and Ann bought a Mr. Tax business in Sioux City, Iowa. They sold this and bought the H&R Block tax business in Denison, Iowa in 1979. The following year they moved to nearby Carroll, Iowa, where they still reside. Nick quickly became well known in the area and he grew the business until he sold it 20 years later. Nick continued to do taxes independently out of his home in Carroll for several years. Nick was very active in his Catholic faith. He served on church councils in Urbandale, Sioux City, and Carroll, IA, and the Des Moines Diocese Pastoral Council. Nick and Ann were on the committee to welcome Pope John Paul II to the Midwest in October 1979, and were among those that received communion from the Pope on that day. Nick was also active in Rotary for 30 years, the Lion’s Club for15 years and the Carroll American Legion. He was also a member of the Jaycees in his younger years. Nick was an avid reader and life long learner. He liked to stay informed about current events and politics.
Nick is survived by his wife Ann Topf; their three children: Terri (Jay) Ford of Denison, Iowa, James Topf of California, Veronica (Charles) Busch of Johnston, Iowa; grandchildren: JoAnn Ford-Halvorsen (Ryan) Halvorsen and their children Charlie and Olli, Michael Ford, Melinda Busch and daughter Sophia, and Austin Busch; as well as his brothers David Topf, Dennis Topf, and sister Patricia Hanssen.
Nick was preceded in death by his parents Lucy and Nicholas William Topf; his brothers Bernard, James, Lawrence, Donald, Maurice; and his sister Mary Trudeau.
