LeRoy A. Topil

LeRoy Topil, 92, of Rising City, passed away on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at the Butler County Health Center.

Memorials can be directed to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shelby or the Rising City Fire and Rescue.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shelby. Visitation will be on Sunday, from 3 until 5 with a parish rosary recited at 5, all at the church. Visitation will resume Monday from 9 until 10 a.m. Interment with military honors by the Shelby American Legion Post #296 will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery with lunch following at the American Legion Hall. Moravec Johnson Mortuary is handling arrangements for LeRoy's family.

LeRoy Anthony Topil was born on January 20, 1933 at rural Bellwood, Nebraska to Anthony A. Topil and Helen E. (Rech) Topil, the oldest of five children. He attended school at rural Bellwood, north of Monroe, and graduated with the class of 1950 from Brainard High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army through the draft in 1953 and served in Trieste, Italy during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1955. He worked for Montgomery Ward in Columbus, and attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for one year, also serving as the production assistant at KOLN-TV Studio in Lincoln. He later took employment with Behlen Manufacturing in Columbus for 40 years. He also farmed with his father four miles north of Surprise, NE and in Eastern Polk County, southeast of Shelby.

He met his future wife, Margaret Ann Zegers through the engagement of his brother, Robert and Margaret's cousin Rose DeWispelare. LeRoy and Margaret were married April 27, 1963 at St. Francis Church, Center, rural David City. Four children were born to this union, Charles, Catherine, Edwin, and Valerie. LeRoy was active in service to his community, Rising City, and to his church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shelby. He served on the Vol. Fire Dept. as a fireman, was an assistant chief, and took EMT courses. LeRoy was a very capable handyman, completing two additions to their home , as well as other remodeling projects. He also built a two stall garage from lumber salvaged from an old rural schoolhouse southwest of Rising city. He served on the Rising City Town Council and served as Mayor. He also developed and ran the RC Mini Storage Facility in Northern Rising City. For Sacred Heart Parish, he served on the Parish Council and was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus JFK Council, where he served as Financial Secretary for several years.

LeRoy is survived by his wife of 61 years, Margaret (Zegers), son Charles (Susie) Topil, David City, daughters Catherine (Chris) Terrana, W. Harrison, NY, and Valerie (Gary) Brown, Lakewood, CO, brother Alfred (Sharon) Topil, Lincoln, NE, sisters-in-law Rose Topil, Lincoln, NE, Alice Policky, Dolores Cast, Louise (Roger) Warnsholz, all of Seward, NE, brothers-in-law Thomas (Judy) Zegers, David City, William (Bev) Zegers, Schuyler; Grandchildren Lucas, Oscar, Colton, and Jacob Terrana, Jessie (Kim) Brown, Keith (Nikki) Brown, Karen (Drew Morley) Miller, Jill (Jared) Cornell, Travis (Mataya) Topil, Tyler Topil; Great-Grandchildren Elizabeth and Alexis Miller, Hank and Dean Cornell, and Grant Topil; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, father and mother-in-law Louis and Lillian Zegers, son Edwin Topil, brother Robert Topil, sisters Marjorie (Lee) Witulski, Mary Ann (Ron) Johnson, brothers-in-law Joe (Virginia) Zegers, Vern Policky, Kenneth Cast, sister-in-law Kathy Zegers, and nephews Jon Topil, Dennis Policky, Gary Policky, and Dan Zegers.