Don 'Bud' Toepfer Jr.

Mason City Donald Bud Toepfer 82, of 39 Willowgreen Ct, Mason City, Iowa died suddenly Friday evening, May 15th, at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa with his family at his side. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 714 North Adams, with Msgr. Joseph J. Slepicka officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue with a Scriptural Wake Service at 6:30 P.M. Interment will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery with Full Military Honors by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. The Family suggests memorials to The Colorado Avalanche Information Center or The Newman Catholic Scholarship Fund.
Bud was born in Mason City on January 1, 1927, son of Ruby and Don Toepfer. He graduated from Mason City High School in 1945 and drafted into the US Army during WWII, serving from 1945 until discharged in 1947 with the rank of staff sergeant. Bud graduated from Mason City Junior College in 1950 and was employed at NCR where he worked for 38 years before retiring in 1989. Bud married his best friend Pat LaGasse in October 1953 at St Josephs Catholic Church in Mason City. During an active and adventurous life Bud was a competitive sailor, head judge and a past commodore of the Clear Lake Yacht Club as well as a race officer for the ILYA and US Sailing. He also served as chairman of the Winnebago Council of BSA. Bud was an avid skier across the mid-west, Europe and Colorado where he spent quality time with his many friends and family. He also worked as a coach and mentor while his sons played Little League baseball. During the winter months he and his wife Pat had retired to Ft Pierce, FL and had just returned to Iowa at the time of his death. He was an active member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach, FL.He is survived by his wife Pat, four sons, Scott (Andrea and Beau) of Breckenridge, CO, Steve (Nancy, Eric and Amber) of Oacoma, SD, Tom (Kelly) of Bokeelia, FL and Homer, AK and John (Teaka) of Houston, MN. He is also survived by a sister, Bonnie Lyons of Mason City as well as many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents Ruby and Don and a sister Joan. He was a wonderful and loving father and husband, and will be greatly missed by everyone whose life he touched.