Paul Toepfer

Paul Amos Toepfer was born May 28, 1935, to Margretta Gertrude (Snethen) and Ernest Louis Toepfer in Kingfisher.

He passed away July 24, 2022, at the age of 87.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Dorothy Louise (Mast) Toepfer; his first son, Kenneth Lee Toepfer, at four months; his parents; brothers Loran Toepfer, James Toepfer, Charles Toepfer; and sisters Edith Nice and Evelyn Clason. A pretty dark-haired girl

A pretty dark-haired girl walking down the street tripped his trigger and in three months he wooed Dorothy with his new ‘50 Chevy Hardtop he bought to impress her and they married on Oct. 30, 1955, in Arkansas City, Kan.

They always loved that hardtop full of memories.

One night it ended up chained to a tree in front of the police station, with directions to replace the very loud “shaking Main Street window” pipes, as the policemen observed while sipping their coffee.

Later that hardtop was drag racing on an old landing strip west of Ark City after “someone” cut the barbed wire fence. It later became a well-used race strip.

Paul grew up helping his dad farm. One day his dad told him the tractor needed to go in to be repaired. Paul asked why and was told it was making a loud strange noise.

Paul informed him that was him singing at the top of his lungs. He later used that voice to sing and preach God’s word.

If you were a youngster at Paul’s home and needed corrected, that loud voice would stop anyone in their tracks within a half-mile.

He worked at Gooden’s Hardware, Boeing, Atlas Mud Company for Alley Reynolds, and for over 60 years he loved running his semi-truck and trailers hauling wheat, sunflowers, cattle, motorcycles, onions, watermelons, spray rigs and much more.

His fitting trucking slogan was, “Don’t worry about the mule, just load the wagon.”

Paul bartered a couple motorcycles for hauling a truck load and riding dirt bikes became the fun of choice for the whole family in between riding horses and mules.

He loved his buggy horse, Blaze, and his mule, Jasper, the largest mule in the county at 17 hands (68 inches).

There was that short stint of selling Kirby vacuum cleaners, but ended after he only sold Dorothy’s used one (he did finally buy her another one).

He served in the Army National Guard until 1961.

In 1966, Paul made the decision to give his whole heart to Jesus, stop living in sin, completely follow Him and answer that call to preach he knew the Lord had been talking to him about.

He sold everything except what his family needed and moved to Colorado to attend Nazarene Bible College (1967-1970) and pastored in Fowler, Colo., during school, commuting 76 miles one way.

In 1970 the family moved to Petersburg, Texas, pastoring the Nazarene church for several years.

He then became a traveling evangelist and continued loving on people, performing weddings and funerals throughout his life.

Paul lived an intentional life trying not to miss a chance to let others know about the saving grace of Jesus and making sure his friends and family knew he loved them by continually harvesting those relationships.

He loved anything with a motor and the louder and faster the better.

His big family reunions proved how much he loved having fun.

He worked as hard having fun with the kids, grandkids and nieces and nephews as he did at making a living.

If he built a bonfire, it was so big you couldn’t get close to it.

He gave the kids shovels and they dug tunnels in his sandy yard until they couldn’t move.

He wanted people to know the Christian life is full of fun and freedom from the chains that bind.

He (“Dad” or “Papa Paul”) found ways to make each relationship memorable with his two sons and daughter and their families: Tim and Tammy Toepfer with children Zach and Lacy Toepfer, Logan and Jeanne Toepfer and Jordan and Zac Smith; Ashley and Sam Coffey; Rebecca and David Inkanish; Karen and Brent Hall with son Dustin Hall; Wade and Lisa Toepfer with Ashley and Marlon Dominique, Payton and Ethan Farrar and Kristen Toepfer and fiancé Jacob Johnson.

Added blessings were each of the 23 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

A celebration funeral service was Friday, July 29, at Kingfisher Church of the Nazarene.

Burial followed at Kingfisher Cemetery.

Charitable gifts honoring Paul Toepfer are suggested to be directed to Kingfisher Church of the Nazarene.