Jessie Elizabeth Toppe

Jessie E. Toppe, nee Cizek age 101, Greenfield, WI, December 04, 1913 ~ November 09, 2015 Formerly of Florence WI and Bradenton, Fl.. She was born in Brown County Wisconsin on December 4, 1913 to Emil and Jesse Cizek of Denmark, WI, She graduated from High School with a perfect attendance record all through her school years. \On December 13, 1932 she married the love of her life, George R. Toppe and they were married for almost 73 years. Her husband George was an avid short wave radio operator under the call letters W9QFL. He introduced Jessie to his hobby and she soon got her own license under the call letters W9AYX, which remained active until her death. Jessie was proud of her part in a major communication company that was doing experiments in South Africa in "The Mountains of the Moon" . She was the contact with their base station in Wisconsin. During World War II many families came to her home to make contact with their service members overseas through her shortwave radio operations. Upon her husband's retirement from the Quality Biscuit Company, they moved to Florence, Wisconsin and became farmers, operating a cattle farm, a pig farm and a potato farm. Jessie took an active part in farming and many days could be seen driving a tractor in the field. Upon retiring from farming in 1987, they moved to Bradenton, Florida and became Florida residents at that time. Each year they would spend six months in Bradenton and six months in their new home in Florence which overlooked their potato farm. Jessie was preceded in death by her parents (Emil and Jesse Cizek), her husband (George R. Toppe) as well as five brothers and four sisters. She is survived by two daughters, Janet (Charlie) Salbashian, Greenfield, WI and Joan (Kenneth) Sturm, Bradenton, Fl, five Grandchildren, Pamella (Michael) Radaj, Jeri (Rick) Davis, Teri (Paul) Meacham, Judy Phelps, and Julie Sturm-Smeester, eight great grandchildren, Jessica (Jeremy) Meacham Caves, Nicole, Ryan, Joshua and David Meacham, Jennifer and Ryan Phelps and Rickie Davis, and five great-great grandchildren, Kylie, Tyler, Karissa and Kennedy Owens and Alexander Meacham as well as many nieces and nephews who lovingly referred to her as "Aunt Jet" which came from the initials of her name, Jessie E. Toppe. She will be missed by many family members and friends. 
Visitation will be at St Hagop's Armenian Church of Racine, WI 4100 North Newman Road on Monday from 10-10:45 am. The funeral service will follow at 11 am, followed by a luncheon at the church. Burial will be at Forest Hill Memorial Park in Oak Creek, after the luncheon. In lieu of flowers memorials to St Hagop's Armenian Church of Racine would be appreciated by the family.