Joshua Toepfer

It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that we announce the passing of Joshua Toepfer, who left us far too soon at the age of 24. Born in Aurora, Illinois, Joshua was a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend. Joshua is survived by his loving parents, Lisa and Tony Toepfer, and his sister, Hannah Ritter (Benjamin). He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Joshua was a kind soul — quiet, thoughtful, and incredibly smart. Excellent at strategy games and hard to beat, with a quiet confidence. He possessed an endearing, quirky sense of humor. While never overtly trying hard to be funny, he effortlessly dropped one-liners, exactly the right moment to have the entire room laughing. He could lighten the mood with his dry sense of humor and impeccable timing. But even more important than these qualities was his big, compassionate heart, and his way of understanding others in his own way. He was a man of few words, but every word he spoke was purposeful and held deep thought and meaning without any fluff. He had a humble and gentle spirit and was wise beyond his years. Despite his reserved demeanor, he had an uncanny ability to provide support to others in exactly the way it was needed. When he saw an unmet emotional need, he’d step in to offer support, intuitively knowing what the other person needed. He was genuine, kind, and a peacemaker—pursuing love and peace over hate and anger. He had such a peaceful, trustworthy presence that even animals were naturally drawn to him. Although Joshua experienced so much suffering through his struggle with a painful chronic illness, he displayed inspiring amounts of perseverance amidst his suffering. Even though he had every reason to complain, he rarely did. After getting sick, there were often things Joshua wasn’t able to do with his family and friends, but when he knew it was important, he always rose to the occasion and participated, giving it his absolute best. We can take comfort in knowing Joshua is finally free from the suffering he endured over the last decade and is now in the arms of Jesus. Though his time with us was far too short, Joshua left a lasting imprint of love, loyalty, and kindness. His memory will live on in the lives of those he touched and the hearts he warmed. A service to honor Joshua’s life will be held on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 (at 3:00pm) at Summit Church Naples, where family and friends are invited to gather and celebrate the beautiful soul we were blessed to know. Gone too soon, never forgotten — Joshua will remain forever in our hearts.

Joshua Toepfer

January 17, 2001 - September 10, 2025