Christopher "Topher" Lee Bower, 58, of Bern Township, passed quietly into the night on October 19, 2025.

Topher was born at St. Joe's in Reading during a snow storm on December 26, 1966 — a Christmas gift to his parents, Leon and Kathleen Bower. In the '70s, the family grew to include his sisters, Melissa and Dina. The family built a home in Reading, filling every room with love and laughter for decades. In 1995, Topher bought that childhood home and raised his own family in it.

Topher graduated from Schuylkill Valley High School in 1984, where he made a name for himself as a football and tennis player and member of the swim team. He made countless friends during this time and established himself as a larger-than-life personality. But he had a higher calling, and he immediately enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps after graduation.

While in the Marines, Topher was a NBC Specialist. His service took him all over the globe, from Yuma, Arizona, to Korea to the Philippines and Okinawa. He was honorably discharged from his service in 1990. His time in the military would later fuel decades of service to the veterans and military community.

In 1986, Topher married the love of his life, Holly Wartluft. In the '90s, they had two children, Samantha and Nicole, who were Topher's pride and joy. Of all the roles he played, being a father was his favorite. Over the years, the family "adopted" a number of wayward kids — the motley crew who surround his daughters — and offered love, stability, and kindness to a number of young people who truly needed it.

For over three decades, Topher served as a sprinkler fitter for Local 669 — the very same union his own father belonged to. Topher loved his father dearly and conducted his job with pride in his father's name. His time with Local 669 helped Topher forge relationships across the country, and this friend group later established a tradition where he and his union brothers would meet in a different place each year. These trips and those relationships meant the world to him.

Once their daughters were older, Topher and Holly turned their attention back to serving their community (and made sure their daughters not only helped, but also understood the importance of giving back). In the early aughts, the family was integral in building and sending care packages to service members in the Middle East through Operation Enduring Freedom, a project that was spearheaded by Keystone Military Families.

Topher was an avid motorcyclist with friends in motorcycle clubs like RMC and the Leathernecks. But in 2004, he and Holly, along with their close friends, established the Armed Forces Brotherhood (AFB) — a 501(c)(3) committed to serving service members and veterans. Topher was the organization's founder and inaugural president.

What began as a service club consisting of bikers evolved into a family organization that touched countless lives. In the late aughts, AFB helped found the Berks County Toys for Tots chapter. Topher was heavily involved in this initiative, bringing joy to children and relief to overburdened parents at Christmas. And with support from Toys for Tots, AFB, led by Topher, combined three charitable motorcycle runs to establish the Eastern PA Toy Run in 2008, which continues to be a massive and successful event to this day. Today, Classic Harley Davidson manages that toy run, and Topher would love to know that people will be supporting this year's event in his name on Sunday, November 2, 2025.

In early 2022, Topher formally retired from the sprinkler fitter union and took up his final passion: working for the Veterans Coalition of Pennsylvania (VCOP), an organization founded by AFB and the Second Brigade. Through VCOP, Topher drove individuals from their homes to their medical appointments, beginning his days in the early hours of the morning and arriving home late at night. He helped establish a shelter for unhoused veterans. And during this time, he met scores of like-minded people who helped him achieve his dreams. The service community surrounding him strengthened these organizations' impact, and their impact was profound because of his contributions.

Anyone who knew Topher knew he was an outstanding cook, and no visitor ever left his house hungry. He also loved movies (and quoting them). He was the trivia master, and no one was safe during a game of Trivial Pursuit. He also loved Philly sports, and felt lucky to see the Birds win the Super Bowl not once, but twice — wins he celebrated with his dad in mind.

Today, we honor Topher's legacy by helping each other, because it's who he was. It's what he would have done.

Topher was a selfless person who bent over backwards to help anyone who needed it. The well of love he had for others was seemingly endless. He took others' pain and turned it into service. He took others' joy and amplified it. He took others' burdens and lightened them. He was surrounded by love wherever he went. He was love. And he will be greatly missed..

Memorial Services will be held Monday, October 27, 2025 at 11:00 am from Leibensperger Funeral Homes, Inc., 223 Peach Street Leesport, PA 19533. Burial will follow in Forest Hills Memorial Park. A visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11:00 am in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to: Veterans Coalition of Pennsylvania, 186 Taft Avenue, Reading, PA 19606. For online condolences, please visit www.leibenspergerfuneralhomes.com