Obituary: Jeannine Toppe-Eggert

Jeannine Anne (Jorgenson) Toppe-Eggert, 86, of Sturgeon Bay, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on July 4, 2018.  She was born in Maplewood, WI on September 29, 1931 to Elden & Lauretta (Fischer) Jorgenson.

She moved to Sturgeon Bay in 1937 and went to the old Sawyer School and the old Sturgeon Bay High School, graduating in 1949.  Her first job was at the original Palmer Johnson’s by the bridge as a receptionist/bookkeeper.

On March 1, 1952, she married James Paul Erwin Toppe.  They had five children and lived in Sturgeon Bay until 1960.  They later moved to Milwaukee and in 1968 to Marquette, Michigan, returning to Sturgeon Bay in 1984.  Paul passed away in 1989.

Jeannine worked for Dr. Ronald DeMark, Dr. Walter Norris, and Steven Morris all optometrists in Marquette. She also worked at N.W.T.C in Sturgeon Bay and happily returned to Palmer Johnson’s, retiring in 2000.  She was a lifelong and very active member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and WELS.  On September 21, 2002, she married Paul Eggert.  He passed away in 2005.

Survivors include her sisters, Lois (Darrell) Jeremiassen and Nancy (Richard) Schneider; the Toppe children:  Kathleen (Leonard) Kurtz, Coleen (James) Fralick, Michelle (Steve) Zaworski, Mike Toppe (Dan Nichols), and Patti (Keith) Christopherson;  Paul Eggert’s children: Mark (Chris) Eggert, Joel (Paula) Eggert, and Rodd (Kari) Eggert: Toppe grandchildren: Taryne (Adrian) Haskamp, Anna Kurtz, Kristofer (Tara Farley) Toppe, Nicholas (Kimberly) Zaworski, Alena, Eric, Rachel and Faith Christoperson;  the Eggert grandchildren:  Carrie (Jeff) Valentin, Jeff (Sophie) Eggert, Nicholas (Christina) Eggert, Christopher, Allysa, and Maggie Eggert, Rachel (Ben) Witmer, and Timothy (Erin Held) Eggert; Toppe great-grandchildren: Anthony and Alex Haskamp, Noah and Kayden Toppe; Eggert great-grandchildren:  Caissa and Archer Valentin, and Ethan Eggert; Toppe in-laws: Catherine Cain, Elaine and Darrel LaLuzerne, John Toppe, and Linda Meeuwsen; Eggert in-laws: Ruth Eggert and Annie Ruth Eggert.   She was preceded in death by parents Elden & Lauretta Jorgenson, husbands Paul Toppe and Paul Eggert, sister Kristin Konrad and her beautiful grandchildren, Emily Kurtz, Kyle and Michaela Christopherson.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 7, 2018, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Sturgeon Bay.  Burial will be in Mt. Olive Cemetery.  Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service.  Forbes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  Memorials may be directed to St. Peter Lutheran School, Mt. Olive Cemetery, or a charity of your choice.