WESTFIELD – Kenneth L. Toporowski, 36, died Sunday, August 12, 2012 surrounded by his family and closest friends in his log home. He was born in Springfield on April 5, 1976 to the proud parents, Leon and Janelle Toporowski, who were lifelong residents of Westfield.At a young age, Ken developed a passion for logging and worked side by side with his family at his grandfather’s sawmill. He attended local schools and was a 1995 graduate of Westfield Vocational High School, where he still holds the baseball all time batting average of .581. Ken’s character was one of strength, hard work, determination, and positive energy. He always had a smile on his face and was willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it. During high school he worked for Agway and Green Meadow Lumber. Later, his skills were fined-tuned at Rocky Mountain Wood Company and Northern Tree Service before starting his own tree company, Top’s Tree Service, which he owned and operated from 2002-2009 before his diagnosis of brain cancer. Kenny enjoyed nature, baseball, soccer and quad racing. For the past five years, he was known as the “Lumberjack”, the catcher for the Vintage Baseball Westfield Wheelmen Team.
He leaves behind his loving wife of 9 years Natalie (Gonthier) Toporowski; his precious daughter, Ciara Toporowski; his caring mother, Janelle (Labrie) Toporowski and Mike; his loyal brothers, David Toporowski and Amy Goldrup of Blandford and Adam Toporowski of Westfield. Kenny also leaves his maternal grandmother, Margaret Labrie of Holyoke, his mother and father in-law Gilles and Jocelyne Gonthier of Westfield; brother and sister in-laws, nieces, nephews and his dog, Timko. He was sadly predeceased by his father Leon Toporowski in 2009.
Family and friends will gather for the funeral on Saturday, August 18th at 9:00 a.m. from the Firtion-Adams Funeral Service, 76 Broad Street, Westfield followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in Holy Trinity Church, 335 Elm Street, Westfield. Burial will follow in the St. Thomas Cemetery in Huntington. Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Friday, August 17th, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ciara Toporowski Memorial Fund, c/o United Bank, 10 Elm Street, Westfield, MA 01085 or the Jimmy Fund, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445.
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