George Toppe, age 96, of Bradenton, Florida, formerly of Florence, Wisconsin, passed away Thursday, June 1, 2006, at Columbia Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, Florida. George was born in Waterloo, Wisc. on June 05, 1909 to the late Emil and Alvina Toppe. He graduated from the Waterloo High School where he played football and basketball. He married Jessie E .Cizek on December 13, 1932. On December 13th they celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary. George retired from the Quality Biscuit Company as an accountant and moved to Florence, Wisconsin and operated a potato farm. Upon retiring from the potato farm, he and his wife Jessie moved to Bradenton Florida in 1987 and they became Florida residents at that time. They spent six months in their Florida home and six months in their new home in Florence which overlooked their potato farm, which they had operated for the past 25 years. He enjoyed operating his short wave radio out of both locations. He enjoyed keeping in touch with his many friends and family by computer also, and became quite adept as a computer operator, sending messages and pictures back and forth to family and friends on a daily basis. He was a shortwave (ham) operator since 1927 under the call letters of 9ANW. He received his shortwave license the year he graduated from high school in Waterloo, WI. and enjoyed ham radio all these years up to his present age of 96. He would have been 97 on June 5, 2006. He was in daily contact with his many friends all over the world. His present call letters were W9QFL which he held since 1936. Ham radio had been a very rewarding and enjoyable part of his life as it had given him many lifelong friends. He is survived by his wife Jessie (nee) Cizek, two daughters, Janet (Charlie) Salbashian, Greenfield, Wisc. and Joan (Kenneth) Sturm, Bradenton, Fl, five Grandchildren, Pamella (Michael) Radaj, Jeri (Rick) Davis, Teri (Paul) Meacham, Judy Phelps, Julie Sturm-Smeester, eight great grandchildren, Jessica (Matt) Owens, Nicole, Ryan, Joshua and David Meacham, Jennifer and Ryan Phelps and Rickie Davis, and two Great Great Grandchildren, Kylie and Tyler Owens, by many nieces, nephews and many other family members and friends. Besides his parents,George was preceded in death by a sister, Grace Stark (nee) Toppe. Visitation will be Wednesday June 7, 2006 from 10:00am to 12:00pm at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Florence, Wisc. Funeral Services will be Wednesday 12:00pm at the church. Pastor Paul Meitner will officiate. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery in Oak Creek, Wisc. Friends may leave condolences and tributes to George's family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com The Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home of Florence is serving the family.