Lieutenant Colonel Michael A. Toepfer, USMC (Retired) of Apple River, IL, age 73 died at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, WI on Friday, April 24, 2026. He passed away after a long battle with cancer.

He was born June 28, 1952 at the Freeport Memorial Hospital to Mernice and Jean (Vincent) Toepfer. He was raised and educated in Stockton Illinois. He was fortunate to have played football for coach John O'Boyle. Mike and his older brothers, Vince (Class of 68) and Carson, (Class of 66) all proudly wore number "61". He was named to the Illinois All-State Football Team (small schools) in 1969.

He worked several jobs in high school to pay for flying lessons, and he soloed on his 16th birthday before taking his driver's license exam. There was that infamous incident of getting in trouble for cutting classes and buzzing the high school.

Following graduation, he attended Eastern Illinois University, earning a bachelor's of Science and Business Management in 1974. He was a member of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity, and he alternated parachute jumping and flying skydivers on the weekends. While at Eastern, he was a member of the Platoon Leaders Class and upon graduation was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps.

Leaving Eastern, he received additional training as an infantry officer and participated in the evacuation of Saigon in 1975. He was an Officer Selection Officer and was fortunate to qualify for the Marine Corps Funded Legal Education Program and attended law school at the University of Notre Dame graduating in 1982. He was admitted to practice law in Illinois and Indiana.

He served as Judge Advocate for the remainder of his 20 year career, finally serving as the Director of the Law Center at Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, Arizona.

Upon retirement from the Marine Corps, he returned to Jo Daviess County and was a shareholder of the Vincent, Roth, Toepfer, and Leinen, P.C. law firm. He was the attorney for many villages, townships and fire protection districts. He retired from the civil practice of law in 2022.

He treasured the time shared with his beloved wife Sally. They both enjoyed small town life. He loved fishing, and he was a member of the Apple River American Legion, Apple River Lions Club, and Apple River United Methodist Church.

He was preceeded in death by his parents and brother, Carson. He is survived by his wife, Sally (Seater), brother Vince (Patricia) and nephews, Jason (Merridy) and Spencer (Kelly) Toepfer and many great nieces and nephews.

Cremation rites were accorded. A visitation will be held at the Stagecoach Trail Event Center in Apple River from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 26, 2026. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Apple River United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a luncheon at the Event Center. In Lieu of flowers a memorial fund has is being established to assist cancer research.