Funeral Services for Bill “Jackpot” Top, age 63, of Sibley, IA were held on September 28th at the First Presbyterian Church of Sibley, with Reverend Terry Simm officiating. Burial was in the Holman Township Cemetery of Sibley. Bill died unexpectedly on Saturday, September 23, 2017 at Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, IA.
Billy Lou Top was born on May 29, 1954 in Rock Rapids, IA, the son of Hyman and Mae (Ziegahn) Top. He grew up in Ellsworth, MN and graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1972. On August 17, 1973, he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Judy VanWyhe. The couple lived various places throughout their marriage such as Rock Valley, IA, Hawarden, IA and where they have lived since 1978, Sibley, IA. To this union two children were born, Candi and Kelly.
Bill was a long-distance truck driver and worked for several companies throughout his life. He started at Kooima Manufacturing, then Lebanon Feed Store, Mouw Trucking, MCT, Van Wyk Inc., and most recently Western Provisions of Sioux Falls, SD for Larry DeGroot.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Sibley and a Lifetime Member of OOIDA (Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association).
Bill was very proud to be a truck driver and was known for keeping things polished and clean. His motto was “If it don’t shine it ain’t mine”. That is why you could guess his favorite hobby was polishing his truck and motorcycle. You could even often catch him in a parking lot somewhere painting the letters on his tires with an unlit cigarette in his mouth. He loved taking motorcycles trips but most of all enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren at their sporting events, band performances, and their regular Saturday night dinners. Bill never saw a stranger-only friends he hadn’t yet met. And, he always had a great story for everyone. He will be greatly missed.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of forty-four years, Judy Top of Sibley, IA; daughter, Candi (Kris) Norgaard of Sibley, IA; son, Kelly (Kaitlyn) Top of Paullina, IA; six grandchildren: Brooke, Carter, Riley, Dylan, McKenly and Knox; brother, Allan (Judy) Top of Hills, MN; sister, Geraldine (James) Sandstede of Luverne, MN; and many other extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Hyman and Mae Top; mother-in-law, Carol VanWyhe; sister-in-law, Connie VanWyhe; and nephew, Danny Sandstede.
