Marian Elizabeth (Horejsi) Topic, 91

Marian Elizabeth (Horejsi) Topic, 91 years old, died July 23, 2023 peacefully at her home in New Prague, Minnesota. Born May 3, 1932 to Frank M. And Mary S. (Tuma) Horejsi in Webster Minnesota, the first daughter and middle child of 5. Growing up on a rural family farm ingrained in her a love of gardening, sewing, hard work and family. 

 Early years of education in her life consisted of a one room schoolhouse where she found her love of reading and learning. Marian went on to graduate Valedictorian of her class and attend Mankato Teaching College to become an elementary school teacher. But not without a few thoughts on other careers after her four-year degree. She was also briefly a stewardess and a trained air traffic controller, a field that had very few women at that time.  

It was around 1950 that Marian caught the eye of a handsome trombone player named Edwin Topic at a wedding dance. Her oldest brother Leonard was instrumental in introducing the two and after just a few months Edwin asked her to marry him, and she said …. No, she told him, I need to finish college. These two went on to date another three years. And, after Marian finished college and was employed in Faribault at the Country School, Edwin asked her again to marry him, and she said …. No, I need to see the world. Well, again they went on to date another three years! And after her 6-week car trip across the United States and Mexico, numerous other trips and adventures across the country, teaching in New Prague, Deephaven, and Belle Plaine School Districts, at Thanksgiving on November 20, 1956, Edwin asked one more time for Miss Marian Horejsi to marry him and she said …. Yes! 

 On August 17, 1957, Marian married Edwin at Most Holy Trinity Church in Veseli. They made their home in New Prague, on the Topic Family Farm, the two went on to have five children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They were married just shy of 54 years and together for 60 before Edwin’s death in 2011. 

 Marian loved to bake, often making dozens and dozens of homemade rolls, cinnamon rolls and potato dumplings and sending care packages of baked goods to her children in college (and after college as well). She found joy in teaching her children and grandchildren how to bake bread and brownies, make poppyseed rolls, pick strawberries, make preserves and pickles, caring for plants and the garden and sewing and basic garment making.  She instilled in them a love of learning and reading. She even managed to teach them a few Czech language lessons.

Marian was an avid Czech Heritage enthusiast, she and Edwin founded the Czech Heritage Club in New Prague and published a cookbook in her spare time. She and Edwin also lead numerous tours to the Czech Republic and would share any and all information to anyone who needed help with their genealogy. Their love of music would lead them also to find lifelong friends in the Czech Republic, of which these friends are now their children’s friends.  With Czech being her first language, Marian was an interpreter for the President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, when he toured the United States on numerous visits, along with interpreting for the State of Minnesota correctional facilities. She taught Czech lessons for New Prague Community Education for numerous years and was always willing to give private lessons to keep the Czech language alive. Her heritage and her family’s journey of footprints across the world was of utmost interest to her. She was extremely active in the St Wenceslaus CCW (also known as the Ladies Guild), as well as being the Coordinator of Religious Release for St. Wenceslaus Catholic School for more years than we can honestly remember. She served as President of the Ladies Auxiliary for Post 5145 and took immense pride in being the wife of a WW11 veteran and her country.

 She will be remembered for her utmost adoration of her grandchildren, her love of books, reading, babies, little animals, baking, sewing, an intense enthusiasm of education, hard work, love of family, chocolate with a cup of coffee, and the extreme love of Edwin (our Dad). 

 Marian is survived by her children, John (Peg), James, Mary, Jeff and Annie; grandchildren, Michael Topic, Esther Kraemer, Eileen Topic, Tristan Hayden and Isabelle Hayden; great-grandchild, JP Kraemer; sister-in-law, Geraldine Horejsi, along with numerous beloved nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her husband Edwin on April 7, 2011; grandsons, Max Topic and Matthew Topic (infant); parents; siblings, Leonard Horejsi, Francis Horejsi, RoseAnn Sticha and Charles Horejsi.

 Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church with Father Eugene Theisen officiating.  Visitation will take place on Friday from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday morning from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at Bruzek Funeral Home.  Burial will occur at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery followed by lunch at the KC Hall.

bruzekfuneralhome.com