Ronald C. "Topper" Topczewski, age 84, U.S. Army veteran, retired C.P.D., P.O.  Beloved husband of Tommy nee Gallagher; loving father of Bryan Topczewski and Charles (DeAnn) Topczewski; cherished grandfather of Marina (Angelo) Dillolo, Arissa Topczewski, and Paige Schmidt; devoted great grandfather of Charlotte and Sophia; brother of Carolyn (the late Edward) Steck; family member Valerie Schmidt; fond uncle and great uncle of many.  Visitation Wednesday December 27, 2023 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Skaja Terrace Funeral Home 7812 N. Milwaukee Ave. Niles.  Funeral Services will begin Thursday 10:00 AM with prayers at the Funeral Home and then proceed to St. Robert Bellarmine for 11:00 AM Mass.  Interment Private.  In lieu of flowers donations to the Polish American Police Association Scholarship Fund or the Rainbow Hospice Ark.  For more funeral info call 847-966-7302 or www.skajafuneralhomes.com

Ronald C. "Topper" Topczewski was born August 18th, 1939 to Chester and Josephine
(Skutnik). Ronald attended Holy Trinity grade school and then Holy Trinity High School were he
excelled at sports, specifically basketball, where he was the captain of the team. Ronald was
named to the second team all city in 1957. Upon graduation he worked construction and odd jobs
until he found his calling in 1962 with the Chicago Police Department. In 1963 he was drafted by
the Army. Upon completion of basic training, Ronald was assigned to West Point as an MP based
upon his law enforcement background. In his time in the army he made many lifelong
friendships, but the most important and impactful person would be a petite black haired girl from
Kentucky he met on base. Ronald was honorably discharged from the service in 1965.
In May 1965 Ronald and Tommy were married. In July 1968 Ronald and Tommy
welcomed a healthy boy, Bryan Todd. Three years later in May another healthy son, Charles
Joseph, joined the family, where they set up roots on Mulligan Ave. on the northwest side of the
city. Ronald worked for the Police Department with 27 of his 32 plus years in the Shakespeare
district, which was a natural fit. Ronald never missed a chance to play organized basketball in
leagues through the city or within the department. Ronald was old school in that he played
handball for 30 years, every Tuesday and Friday on top of playing in two to three basketball
games a week. In addition he always found time to be the coach for Bryan and Charlie's
basketball teams at St. Roberts and Norwood Park.
Ronald found in his youth a love for boating in Wisconsin, specifically Powers Lake.
Summers were for the lake. Ronald taught anyone who came up to ski, or if not have an old
style. Ronald passed his love of boating, swimming, skiing, and lake life onto his sons Bryan and
Charlie.
Ronald was all about his family, but when Charlie and DeAnn were married the
granddaughters appeared and it was all about the granddaughters. Ronald talked, ranted and
spoiled Marina, Arissa, and Paige to no end with grandfather love. Ronald always had some little
tidbit to give to the girls. In the late 90s Bryan had brought a Harley. Ron and Bryan had gone to
pick up the bike. Ronald thought Bryan was kidding that he walked out with the keys. However
Bryan had no idea how to ride hence the necessity of Ronald to get the hog home. Ronald loved
having Bryan's Harley at the house and while Bryan was sleeping after working midnights
Ronald would jump on the bike and discovered a whole new chapter of his life. Eventually
Ronald had to get his own bike. Ronald has discovered a tight group of guys who traveled the
lost America on their bikes, Ronald also joined Bryan and friends on about six, two week trips
across the USA.
When Ronald had retired from the Police Department he began working part time at Taft
High School. Everywhere, and I mean everywhere he went he saw his Taft Eagles. I figure
Ronald worked at Taft for 22 years; so I figure he has approximately 80,000 Taft Eagles he calls
his own on the northwest side of the city.
Ronald lived his life to the fullest. Ronald lived a life of service, to the City of Chicago
through the Police Department, the Armed Forces, and to the Taft High School Community. Far
beyond his life of service was family. Ronald loved his family from his early years as the start of
all of his cousins, his uncles, his aunts, wife, sons, daughter in law, granddaughters, and great
granddaughters. Ronald "Topper" Topczewski after a life lived to the fullest can be summed up
into this simple phrase "A love of family and a life of service."