Rena Top

Funeral services for Rena Top, age 103, of Milaca, will be held Monday, October 7, 2019 at 2 PM at the Christian Reformed Church in Pease with Pastor Michael Ten Haken officiating.  Interment will follow at Pease Cemetery.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.  Rena passed away Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at Milaca Elim Home.

Rena (Van Den Oever) Top was born on July 22, 1916 at her parents' home near Perkins, Iowa, the daughter of Peter and Barbara (Brouwer) Van Den Oever. She attended Burr Oak School and graduated from 8^th grade.  Rena married Ralph Top on October 5, 1939.  They made their first home near Rock Rapids, Iowa. They farmed throughout the years in Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota. She and Ralph farmed near Pease from 1960 to 1965, before selling the farm and moving to Princeton.  Rena became solely a homemaker and Ralph worked at Smith Systems until 1979.  They moved to their home in Milaca in 1980. Her husband, Ralph, died on February 6, 2004.   After Ralph's death, Rena moved to Country Meadows in Milaca.  She lived there for ten years before moving to the Milaca Elim Home for three years. 

Rena was a faithful member of the Christian Reformed Church of Pease and a member of the Ladies Aid.  She focused on family, grandchildren and loved family gatherings. She was a devoted mother and always supported her family when needed. Rena was a skilled baker making homemade bread, cookies and cakes that everyone in her family enjoyed. She and Ralph spent many winters in Florida where they enjoyed the sunshine and made new friends. 

Rena is survived by her daughters, Betty (Pete) DeBoer of Milaca and Roselee (Ron) Smith of St. Peter; sons, John (Bonnie) Top of Castlewood, SD, Ralph Top of Princeton, Marvin (Dolly) Top of Inver Grove Heights, David Top of St. Joseph, Kenneth (Barbara) Top of Titusville, FL and Erwin (Francia) Top of Fort Wayne IN; 16 grandchildren; 5 step-grandchildren;  13 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren;  sister-in-law, Joan Fransman of Hills, MN;  also by many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph;  sons, Peter, Ronald and Dennis; granddaughter, Shannon Top; sisters, Ada Burggraf, Cynthia Van Den Oever and Katie Top;  brothers, John, Fred, Andrew, Jake, Henry, Henry, James, Peter and an infant at birth.