Marinus Top

Marinus Top, son of the late John and Jenny (Kuiper) Top, was born on August 17, 1928 in Luverne, Minnesota, and passed away on May 12, 2008 at his residence in Mtn. Grove, Missouri, following an extended illness. He was 79 years, 8 months, and 25 days of age. Marinus grew up on farms in Iowa and Minnesota and attended a rural school near Larchwood, Iowa.
He was united in marriage to Martha Cramer on March 22, 1950 in Holland, Minnesota. They were married for fifty-eight years. Martha passed away on April 2, 2008.
Marinus served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War with two years of active duty. He received the Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, the United Nations Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He spoke little of his time in the United States Army, but was proud to have served his country.
Marinus was a lifelong, active Christian and church member. He joined the Southside Baptist Church in Mtn. Grove in 1977 and was a member for thirty-one years.
He liked to hunt as a young man and he loved to fish as he grew older. He was a dairy farmer in Minnesota and South Dakota and moved to the Mtn. Grove area in 1977, where he raised cattle until moving to town in 2004.
Marinus enjoyed helping his sons on their farms and always strived to be a good neighbor. He enjoyed traveling following his retirement from dairy farming.
His greatest joy in life was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Besides his parents and his wife, he was preceded by seven brothers and two sisters.
He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law: Leslie Ray and Onita Top and Leon Jay and Teresa Top, all of Mtn. Grove, Missouri; six grandchildren: Aleta (Top) Gustavson and her husband, Nathaniel, of Pella, Iowa, Marinus “Jake” Top and his wife, Sheena, of Willow Springs, Missouri, Joshua “JR” Top of Springfield, Missouri, Taletha Top of Belton, Missouri, Levi Top of Mtn. Grove, Missouri, and Teascha Hulbert and her husband, Kevin, of Cabool, Missouri; nine great-grandchildren; one brother: Bernie Top and his wife, Jeanette, of Luverne, Minnesota; two sisters: Jenny VanderWal of Ripon, California, and Joanne Fransman of Hills, Minnesota; and a host of other relatives, church family, and friends who will sadly miss him.
Funeral services for Marinus Top were held Thursday, May 15, 2008 in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel with Rev. Roger Flint officiating. JR Top sang “Amazing Grace,” “Rock Of Ages,” and “Will The Circle be Unbroken.” Pallbearers were Levi Top, Jerry Bradley, Taletha Top, JR Top, Jake Top, and John Top. Full military honors were given at the cemetery by The American Legion Post 30 and The Lima Burial Detail Team with Jared Moore serving as bugler. Burial was in the Hillcrest Cemetery under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mtn. Grove, Missouri.


Funeral Services:
Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 10:00 AM in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel in Mtn. Grove.
Visitation:
Wednesday, May 14, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM in the funeral home.
Burial:
Hillcrest Cemetery
In lieu of flowers/contributions to:
The Gideons or Mtn. Grove Christian Academy