Steven Topel

Steven R. Topel, 59, of Waukon, IA, died Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at his home in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Monday, May 26th, at 1:00 PM at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, with Pastor Grant VanderVelden officiating. Burial will be held at a later date in Sixteen Cemetery, rural Monona, IA. Friends may call from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Steven Robert Topel was born August 29, 1954, in Waukon, IA, the son of Robert and Dorothy (Johnson) Topel. He attended Waukon schools, and served in the United States Army from 1971-1974 in Anchorage, AK. He received his GED in the Army in 1971. Steve took advantage of many educational opportunities. In 1979, he received his student pilot license in Manchester, NH. Steve graduated from FWL Outfitters and Guide School in Hamilton, MT in 1985; then in 1989, he graduated from Stories School of Taxidermy in Spencer, IA. On August 31, 1985, Steve married Cindy Laurie Beisker at Forest Mills United Methodist Church in rural Waukon.

After returning home from the Army, Steve went to work for a few different meat companies as a meat cutter. Steve worked in 18 different states while working for these companies: New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, Colorado, Mississippi, Kansas, and South Dakota. He then moved back to Iowa where he worked various jobs. He worked for Lansing Fisheries in Lansing for three years, and also worked for R.W. Pladsen in Waukon for two and a half years. Steve then worked from home as a full time taxidermist for eight years. For 14 years, Steve worked at Cabela's in Prairie du Chien, WI, until he was forced to retire in 2011 due to health reasons.

Steve was an avid outdoorsman; he loved to fish, hunt, trap, and finding morel mushrooms. He also enjoyed playing golf. His favorite times of all were the family vacations to Canada every year, and spending as much time as he could with his grandson Jese!

Steve is survived by his wife Cindy of Waukon; three children: Chris Sorenson of Des Moines, IA, Dustin Lewey of Waukon, and Randall (Melissa) Steele of Huntington, WV; four grandchildren: Jese and Alex Lewey, and Ashe and Arone Steele; his mother Dorothy (Gary) Gress of Waukon; brother Tom Topel of Decorah, IA; half-siblings: Tim (Brandie) Gress of La Crosse, WI, Troy (Michelle) Gress of Waukon, and Lori (Blair) Cahoon of Waukon; and his mother-in-law Laurayne Beisker of Waukon. He was preceded in death by his father.

Honorary casketbearers are his hunting buddies from Pennsylvania, and Jeremy Frieden.