FOUNDERS DAY FEATURE: Don Altop’s story

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Editor’s note: Each year, the Brown County Democrat celebrates some aspect of Brown County history in our Founders Day section, also known as “Yesteryear.” This year — as we’ve done for the past several years — we’re writing about residents who are about 80 or older, who define “Brown County character” in some way. Nominations came from the community. Submit suggestions for next year’s section to [email protected].

Don Altop was born in Bean Blossom in 1939 and still lives just a mile outside the burg on Gatesville Road. Yet, he couldn’t imagine ever living anywhere else.

“This place is home for me,” he said. “I’ve been all over the country throughout my whole life, and no place has felt right besides Brown County.”

Altop, 81, stayed heavily involved in the Brown County community from an early age. He attended Helmsburg High School, where he played softball, ran track and was a guard on the basketball team.

After graduating in 1957, Altop took two years to figure out his career.

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“To make a long story short, I eventually ended up at Cummins after finishing high school,” he said.

Cummins hired Altop in March 1959 as a models expert, where he crafted prototypes and potential designs for the heavy equipment company.

While working at Cummins, Altop joined the Brown County Jaycees, the group originally in charge of the annual fireworks show, and began working part-time at Central States Fireworks based in Illinois.

For the next 50 years, Altop was the main man behind the Brown County fireworks show, coordinating the specific fireworks launched and physically lighting the fuses.

“I just love doing it,” he said. “It’s just so very rewarding to be standing down there, and you turn around and see people’s reactions. It makes it all worth it to see their faces.”

Around two years ago, Altop was asked to retire as the leader.

He retired from Cummins after 30 years in 1989. However, he continued to travel across the state doing shows for Central States, making stops in Newport, Cordry-Sweetwater, Bedford and Lake Huron.

Despite traveling across the state for these shows, Altop said he knew he would always end up back in Brown County. After all, he had met his wife, Marian, while she was working at the Nashville State Bank.

“I’ve known Marian almost my entire life, it feels,” Altop said. “We’ve been together for about 40 years now, and we both just love living here together.”

Despite finding his ideal situation, Altop couldn’t stay very retired during his retirement. In 2000, Altop built a cabinet shop in his backyard, where he has been doing freelance woodworking for locals ever since. Anything that’s made of wood, Altop said he’s able to craft it.

“His handiwork is just so impressive,” Marian said. “The precision he has at his age and in his health is remarkable.”

Altop was recently diagnosed with COPD, which affects his lung function, and has largely been bedridden during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite this, he said he still finds ways to enjoy himself, occasionally gets some woodworking done, and considers himself lucky to end up where he has.

“I sure am getting tired of staring at this TV all day,” he said.

“But I am grateful that I have people who look after me and that I ended up living in a place where I feel so at home. I really couldn’t be anywhere else.”

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Born: 1939 in Bean Blossom

Parents: Ray and Nova Altop

Spouse: Marian Altop

Children: Steve, Bryan and Marcy; six grandchildren

Occupations: Models expert at Cummins; fireworks expert for Central States

Hobbies: Woodworking, fireworks operating.

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