Gilbert Henry Topp
 February 23, 1932 ~ August 30, 2023

Gilbert Henry Topp passed peacefully on August 30, 2023 at the Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL. He was born in Chester, IL on February 23, 1932, to Henry and Agatha Topp. Gilbert was pre-deceased by his beloved wife, Stella Marie Topp née Richardet, who died in 1992. He is survived by his three children, Rebecca (and Jim) Cook, Laura (and Gary) Hoeferkamp, and Craig (and Cynthia) Topp, his beloved grandchildren, Cristina Kaufman, Micki McKnight, Natalie Hoeferkamp, Lucas Hoeferkamp, and his great grandchildren, Steven Kaufman, Liam Kaufman, and Gabriel McKnight. He is also survived by his ex-wife, Melba Topp.

Gilbert was a proud graduate of University of Illinois and SIU Carbondale. He served as a Corporal in the US Army, stationed in Germany during the Korean War. He was a high school science teacher for many years at Cahokia High School. He loved the outdoors and stayed very active throughout his life, with volleyball, canoeing, bike riding, traveling, square dancing and landscaping his beautiful wooded lot.

His Catholic faith was very important to him. He was a member of St. Henry's Catholic Church in Belleville, and later, Holy Trinity in Fairview Heights. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

He was gentle, humble, and even-keeled. Family was very important to him, and he loved big gatherings and playing board games like Apples to Apples with four generations. He was an avid member of the St. Louis square dancing community, which brought him much joy and companionship in his later years.

Visitation: Sunday, September 3 from 2:00-6:00pm at Valhalla Gardens, 3412 Frank Scott Pkwy W, Belleville, IL 62223.

Funeral Mass: Tuesday, September 5 at 11:00am at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 505 Fountains Pkwy, Fairview Heights, IL 62208, with an additional visitation starting at 10:00am before the service.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ValhallaGardensandFuneralHome.com for the Topp family.