New Salem Community Mourns Loss of Longtime Resident and Civic Leader Gordonna Toepke
Gordonna Fay Toepke, a pillar of the New Salem, North Dakota community, passed away peacefully yesterday, October 4, 2025, at Elm Crest Manor at the age of 86.
Born October 8, 1938, in Bismarck, ND, Toepke dedicated his life to service – first in the US Army, stationed in Fulda, Germany from 1956-1958, where he managed the motor pool and traveled extensively throughout Europe, and then to his hometown. He later recounted his military service as an honor and participated in an Honor Flight to Washington, DC in 2018. Following a brief period at Dickinson State Teachers College, he married Jeanette Klein in 1960, and together they raised five daughters. For 39 years, Toepke co-owned and operated Toepke Chevrolet with his brother, Durwood, becoming a trusted mechanic and salesman in the region.
Beyond his business, Toepke was deeply involved in civic life, serving on the New Salem City Council, Zoning Board, and as a volunteer with the Fire Department and Jaycees. He was a lifelong member of the Sportsmen’s Club, instrumental in the annual Fishing Derby and Soil & Water Conservation poster contest, and actively collaborated with the North Dakota Game & Fish Department on local conservation efforts. He also shared his passion for the outdoors by leading canoe trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area for 20 years and teaching Hunter’s Education for over 35 years, earning a Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication. His commitment to youth extended to mentoring countless children in outdoor skills. The loss of such a dedicated community member highlights the importance of local engagement and volunteerism.
Toepke was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette, and daughter, Sherry. He is survived by four daughters, Tamara Toepke-Floyd, Brenda Rekow, Colette Kilber, and Melisa Peterson, as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and siblings. Funeral arrangements are pending, and the family requests that any memorial donations be directed to the Peace UCC in New Salem.
