Robert Topmiller Funeral Time: Tuesday, September 2nd at 2:00PM Robert Topmiller was born Oct. 18, 1948 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Norbert Topmiller and Rita Meyer Topmiller. He attended St. Peter and Paul Elementary and graduated Moeller High School in 1966. He joined the Navy serving as a Navy Corpsmen with the US Marines in Vietnam. He was proud of his service and was an advocate to all veterans. He married Terri Nicks on Nov. 1, 1969 in Weiser, Idaho. They had four children, Chris Topmiller (Brianne), Kevin Topmiller (Jaime), Robert Topmiller (Emily) and Jamie Sadler (Keith); and four grandchildren, Brooke and Scott Topmiller and Ross and Aidan Sadler. After being in business for over 20 years, Bob returned to school receiving his Ph.D. in history. He taught history to military personnel in South Korea and at EKU until his retirement in May 2008. He was a teacher who truly cared about his students. He will be missed by his family and his many friends. A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home-Main St. Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday

Robert Topmiller (1948-2008)

Dear VSG:

It is with a heavy heart that I relay the news of Dr. Robert Topmiller's death. He passed away earlier this week in Kentucky and his funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 2. If you would like to send your condolences to his family, please respond to me off-list and I will provide details.

As many of you know, Bob was a leader scholar of the Vietnamese- American war with publications including_The Lotus Unleashed: The Buddhist Peace Movement in South Vietnam_, _Red Clay on My Boots: Encounters with Khe Sanh 1968 to 2005_, and countless other articles and essays on that conflict. Recently retired from Eastern Kentucky University, Bob was working on a multi-perspective history of Khe Sanh as well as a project on Vietnam Veterans in the United States.

A talented scholar, wonderful teacher, committed peace worker, and generous friend, Bob will be sorely missed.

Yours,
Hang

__________

Lien-Hang T. Nguyen
Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of Kentucky
John M. Olin Postdoctoral Associate
International Security Studies
Yale University

****

Robert Topmiller Obituary

TOPMILLER Robert, born Oct 18, 1948 in Cincinnati, OH to Norbert Topmiller and Rita Meyer Topmiller. He attended St. Peter and Paul Elementary and graduated Moeller High School in 1966. He joined the Navy serving as a Navy Corpsmen with the US Marines in Vietnam. He was proud of his service and was an advocate to all veterans. He married Terri Nicks on Nov 1, 1969 in Weiser, ID. They had four children, Chris Topmiller (Brianne), Kevin Topmiller (Jaime), Robert Topmiller (Emily) and Jamie Sadler (Keith); and four grandchildren, Brooke and Scott Topmiller and Ross and Aidan Sadler. After being in business for over 20 years, Bob returned to school receiving his Ph.D. in history. He taught history to military personnel in South Korea and at EKU until his retirement in May 2008. He was a teacher who truly cared about his students. He will be missed by his family and his many friends. A memorial service will be 2pm Tue at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home-Main St. Visitation will be from 1-2pm Tue.

Published by Lexington Herald-Leader on Aug. 31, 2008.
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He had a positive impact on my life and was very inspiring as an educator. I was in one of his last classes and I am thankful to have had that opportunity.
David Phillips

February 25, 2009
I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear of Dr. Topmiller's passing. He was a beloved professor of mine, and made a true impact on my life. My thoughts are with you.
Kendall Vaughn

November 12, 2008
Truly sorry for your loss. I, along with PHS President Scott Bennett, presented the DeBenedetti Prize to Bob at Georgian Court University. It was the first and only time I met him. At the time I did not know he served with Marines during Vietnam. So did I. His writings on behalf of peace will be his legacy and his family his greatest honor.
Chuck Howlett

October 3, 2008
Dear Topmiller Family,
I was deeply saddened when I heard of Dr. Topmiller's passing. I was one of his students at EKU, graduating in 2005. Dr. Topmiller was an amazing man and a phenomenal teacher. No matter how busy he was, he always took the time to stop what he was doing and answer any questions I might have. His classes were always very popular and filled-up quickly. He will greatly be missed by all who knew him. The world is truly a sadder place without Dr. Topmiller.
Carrie Barrera

September 23, 2008
I am so sorry to hear the news. To me, Bob always represented the best American traits -- optimism, can-do, love for humanity, and compassion. I will miss him very much. He was a very warm and caring person. I met Bob at the NEH Seminar on Vietnam at the University of Miami in 2005. He had given so much of himself.

Sincerely,
Philip E. Schoenberg, Queens College, New York City
Philip Schoenberg

September 6, 2008
Terri and family I am heartbroken at your loss. Doc took great care of us at Khe Sanh, I will always remember him for the kind person he was. My love and condolences to you and your family. It was great seeing doc and meeting you in Reno. God bless.
Clifford braisted
September 4, 2008

Dear Terri and Family,

Bob was my cousin. His mother Rita and my mother Florence were sisters. I remember growing up in Reading, Ohio with him and his 2 brothers who lived only 2 streets away. Bob was always a sweet child with a special smile and giggle that would warm your heart.
Many years ago I remember Bob speaking to my mother and me about his time in Vietnam. My heart went out to him.
I recently read the book "Red Clay on my Boots" and was touched. I never realized the true impact of that conflict on him and his fellow soldiers until then. God bless the good works he did from the time he entered the service until the time of his death trying to help others. I am so proud of the impact he had on so many lives. God has a special place for him in Heaven. He has done so much of God's work. He will live in my memory.

God bless you and your family. He will hold you in his arms for the love you gave to Bob.
Nancy Renz
September 3, 2008
Terri
I am so sorry to hear of Docs. death, I am so devasted and shocked. When we met in Reno, I took an instant liking to him. I know our time in Khe Sanh made me feel like I had known him for a long time. I will keep you in my prayers Terri,. Doc. will be missed by all of us very much. I am so sorry for your lost.
Oz
September 2, 2008
I was deeply saddened to hear of Bob's passing. I only new him recently, as he was responsible for getting me in contact with Dieu van.

I went back to Vietnam with my son after 40 years this past June and Dieu van took us to the boarding school and the pagoda where there is a shrine to Bob's father and two Marine buddies who were killed at Khe Sanh.

Although I hadn't known Bob for very long, I felt a connection with him as "brothers in arms."

Please accept my heartfelt sympathies to his wife Terri and family.
John Lombardo
September 2, 2008
Jamie and Keith: We are very sorry about your loss. Let us know if there is anything at all we can do.

Mike and Sarah
Sarah Grace
September 2, 2008
Terri and family,
Our hearts ache for your loss and you are in our prayers. Deepest condolences.
Captain Adam Snyder's family.
the Hennessys
September 2, 2008
Dear Topmiller Family,

Our thoughts are with you in this time of sorrow. He was a great man and will be missed.
Amanda King
September 2, 2008
Dear Terri and Family,
I was saddened to read of your husband's death. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you during this most difficult time. May God wrap His warm arms of comfort around you all.
Roberta Combs
September 2, 2008
Topmiller family,
I was at Khe Sanh during the siege as was Robert. I read his book Red Clay On My Boots and it was excellent. I went to a book signing in Lexington August, 2007 and spoke to him and had him sign my copy. He was very gracious and once he found out I was a fellow siege veteran he was like an old friend.
I just want to say how very sorry I am about his death. I will keep him and his family in my prayers.
John Hargesheimer
September 1, 2008
To the Topmiller family:

I am truly sorry for your loss. While many of us can not share the full burden of your pain, we feel it. I myself was one of Dr. Topmiller's students, and I never met a finer man or a better teacher. Bob Topmiller was, for me, one of those rare teachers that changes a person's life by sharing with them his wisdom and his perspective. My thoughts are with your family now.
Justin Hunt
September 1, 2008
Dear Terri and Family, we wish to express our profound sadness upon hearing of your loss. I was completing my doctorate under George Herring just as Bob entered the program, yet we became good friends. I was a severely disabled big-city firefighter and Bob was a great source of comfort to me when I needed him. He shared many of his experiences with both me and my wife who is also a historian. We frequently use his life of service in both our undergrad and graduate student courses. Many of our current grad students are in the military and take us online, several from the war zones. It helps all of us be better teachers having known a man of Bob's character. We kept up with his career through George, and Francois LeRoy among others and envied his retirement and trips to Europe. Please know that his memory will be kept alive through our teaching and thus into the next generation of students that we all have touched. Our prayers are with you and your entire family.
Jim Powell
Charmaine Powell
Jim Powell
August 31, 2008
I am very sorry for your loss....your spouse was my cousin
Joseph Meyer
August 31, 2008
Dear Topmiller Family,
We send our most heartfelt condolences to you all. We hold you close in thought and prayer.
With love and deepest sympathy,
Doug and Mary Jo Larzelier
(aunt and uncle of Brianne and Chris)
Mary Jo Larzelier
August 31, 2008
Dear Terri and family,

We are so sorry for your loss and want you all to know that you are in our family's thoughts and prayers.

Love,

Bruce and Benita Miller
Bruce and Benita Miller
August 31, 2008
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