Jack Dixon Topper

In Loving Memory of Jack Dixon Topper, Jr. August 14, 1949- January 25th, 2026

Jack was born of Mary Leah & Jack Dixon Topper in Kansas City, MO 

He was the 5th of 8 children.  His father passed away when Jack was just 4 1/2 years old and was raised by his mother with his other siblings.  

Jack attended St. Mary’s/Presentation Catholic Schools until 9th grade when he attended Lee’s Summit, Missouri Public Schools. 

 It was at Lee’s Summit High School that a teacher piqued Jack’s interest in the subject of nuclear fission. Jack became fascinated with the concept. About that time, a recruiting poster advertising the U.S.Nuclear Navy caught his eye in 1967, which Jack has said, “Pretty much sealed his fate.” 

Six and a half years later his enlistment ended and Jack was discharged with a Propulsion Plant Watch Supervisor qualification, 18 months of refueling and overhaul experience, two deployments to Vietnam and something like a quarter of a million miles in his wake trekking over the oceans on the U.S.S. Enterprise. 

He was hired by Pacific Gas and Electric Company as an inspector during the construction of Diablo Canyon Power Plant.  

Three years later, Jack joined Nuclear Plant Services, traveling around the country providing health physics services during refueling and maintenance outages.  

Over the next several years, Jack worked for several companies at many sites in the United States, Canada, and Japan. 

 In 1983, Jack’s contracting travels took him back to Diablo Canyon, this time to assist in the implementation of their external dosimetry program, where he remained for over 13 years. 

In 1997, Jack took a Technical Specialist position with ICN Pharmaceutical, Doximetry Division in Costa Mesa, CA.  From there he went to Radiation Detection Company in Gilroy, CA as Deputy Technical Director, soon to become the Director 18 months later. 

Jack developed a personal radiation detector wearable device that was far more sensitive than the status quo.  He also wrote a safety manual for Berkeley College Nuclear program- which took him 5 years.

Jack always had a lighthearted sense of humor and an adventurous spirit which led him to buying a sailboat and living on it for three years in Oakland Bay. He would gather a "crew" and participate in weekend races. He also had a private pilot's license and loved flying so much that for a number of years he owned his own plane.

Jack was happily married to Laura Janet Wyatt-Topper, with whom he had so much in common.  His wife, “Jan” had also been a pilot, a hunter, a fisherman and guide in Alaska.  Together, they forged a fulfilling life enjoying the great outdoors as much as possible.

Jack retired and their hopes fulfilled to secure a dream home location in Cascade, Montana along the beautiful Missouri River out his front door, and the Cascade Rocky Mountains out his back door.  

His other hobbies include fly-fishing, woodworking, hunting, watching movies, and reading.  He was known to enjoy playing Santa Claus during the Christmas season, and he looked the part so much with his rosy cheeks and snow white beard.  His wife Jan was equally wonderful as Mrs. Claus, and together they made memories for many little children throughout the years.

Jack is greatly missed by his wife, Jan, her daughter Licia Blackburn and Greg Blackburn (CA),  his siblings, Jacquelyn M. Rice and Lawrence T. Rice, (KS);  Mary Ann Burridge,  Nancy D Yancey and Steve Yancey, (CO), John M. Topper (CO), as well as numerous nieces and nephews: Dawn Swift (ID), DeAnne Janz,  David W. Dunn (AR), Kevin L Dunn, (OK),  Keith A. Dunn, Karen S. Findley (OK), Lawrence T. Rice Jr., (KS), Anthony J. Rice, (KS),  J. Michael Yancey (CO), Christopher N.  Yancey (CO), John P. Yancey (KS), Shannon R Shelton (MO), Suzette Jarvis (MO).