Howard E Toops, 73, of Burlington, died Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, at Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House.
Born July 19, 1951 in Kirksville, Mo., he was the son of Warren G. and Lois L. Gracey Toops.
He graduated from Clark County High School. Howard served his country in the United States Navy as a Corpman during the Vietnam war. Howard attended Southeastern Community College for two years before transferring to Truman State College in Kirksville and earning his Bachelor’s Degree in business.
He married Patricia A. Egley on Sept. 22, 1973 in Wayland, Mo.
Howard was a Manufacturing Quality Industrial Engineer retiring from Borghi USA in June 2006. After retirement he worked at Lowe’s for an additional 14 years. His main passions were serving the church, community and families. He sang in the choir, volunteered for the blood donation program and ran ice cream socials for First United Methodist. He was a 20+ gallon blood donor who also drove veterans to Iowa City and served on the Board of the Special Needs Foundation. He coached soccer and helped 4th graders with reading. All the while never losing his zest & curiosity for travel.
Survivors include his wife Pati of Burlington; one daughter, Amanda (Evan) Hoapili of Melbourne, Florida; two sons Justin (Kate) Toops of Cocoa Beach, Florida and Nathan (Rachel) Toops of Burlington; nine grandchildren Evan II, Wiliam, Madeline, Raylee, Kai, Sage, Gabriel, Josephine, Alexander; one brother David (Laura) Toops of Ft. Myers, Florida.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Dennis and sister-in-law Betty.
Cremation has been accorded and entrusted to the care of Lunning Chapel.
The celebration of life for Howard will be Saturday Oct. 12 at the Loft from 2 to 4 p.m. The family requests everyone to wear party shirt or a Hawaiian-themed shirt.
Private Family Services and Military Rites will be held at Lunning Chapel with Pastor Ronnie Braggs officiating.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for the Special Needs Foundation.