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Toews, Peter Reginald (1916-2005)

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(Created page with ""Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2005 Mar 18 p. 29 Birth date: 1916 Aug 29 text of obituary: <center><h3>PETER REGINALD (P.R.) TOEWS</h3></center> Peter R. Toews died...")
 
 
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settling on irrigation farmland in Coaldale,
 
settling on irrigation farmland in Coaldale,
 
Alta. in 1928. Peter became responsible for
 
Alta. in 1928. Peter became responsible for
the {rrigation tasks. When his mother en -
+
the irrigation tasks. When his mother encouraged him to attend Bible school he refused because he was not a Christian.
couraged him to attend Bible school he re-
 
fused because he was not a Christian.
 
 
When the family went to church, he and his
 
When the family went to church, he and his
friends would either go to town or stay out-
+
friends would either go to town or stay outside the church, enjoying themselves. At an
side the church, enjoying themselves. At an
 
 
evening service in January he accompanied
 
evening service in January he accompanied
 
his father to church but arrived too late to
 
his father to church but arrived too late to
 
join his friends. That evening his parents
 
join his friends. That evening his parents
prayed with him and he found peace. Ro-
+
prayed with him and he found peace. Romans 10:10 became his anchor. He attended Coaldale Bible School, then Prairie Bible
mans 10:10 became his anchor. He attend-
+
Institute, Three Hills, Alta. He became Sunday school teacher of teenagers. He married Lydia Janz Apr. 17, 1941. They farmed
ed Coaldale Bible School, then Prairie Bible
 
Institute, Three Hills, Alta. He became Sun-
 
day school teacher of teenagers. He mar-
 
ried Lydia Janz Apr. 17, 1941. They farmed
 
 
but a hailstorm devastated most of their
 
but a hailstorm devastated most of their
 
crops the first year. He became angry with
 
crops the first year. He became angry with
Line 41: Line 41:
 
churches. He preached in Elmwood MB
 
churches. He preached in Elmwood MB
 
Church one Sunday evening and then was
 
Church one Sunday evening and then was
asked to preach every evening for a week. _
+
asked to preach every evening for a week.
 
At the same time he had become speaker
 
At the same time he had become speaker
 
for the Gospel Light Hour, a weekly radio
 
for the Gospel Light Hour, a weekly radio
broadcast. After College he taught at Coal-
+
broadcast. After College he taught at Coaldale Bible School. He and Lydia, together
dale Bible School. He and Lydia, together
 
 
with David and Lena Ewert, were ordained
 
with David and Lena Ewert, were ordained
to ministry. He pastored churches in Hep-
+
to ministry. He pastored churches in Hepburn, Sask., Vancouver, Dinuba, Calif., Winnipeg, Watrous, Sask. and Armstrong, B.C.,
burn, Sask ., Vancouver, Dinuba, Calif., Win-
 
nipeg, Watrous, Sask . and Armstrong, B.C.,
 
 
and served as moderator of the Canadian
 
and served as moderator of the Canadian
MB Conference. He also taught at Colum-
+
MB Conference. He also taught at Columbia Bible Institute, Abbotsford, and served
bia Bible Institute, Abbotsford, and served
 
 
as president for 8 years. In 1986 he retired
 
as president for 8 years. In 1986 he retired
 
in Abbotsford to enjoy his hobbies of
 
in Abbotsford to enjoy his hobbies of
woodworking, fishing and growing roses .
+
woodworking, fishing and growing roses.
 
In 1997 they sold their house and moved to
 
In 1997 they sold their house and moved to
 
a condo in Garden Park Tower. When he
 
a condo in Garden Park Tower. When he
Line 57: Line 57:
 
Kazakhstan, he planted a rose garden in her
 
Kazakhstan, he planted a rose garden in her
 
memory on the grounds of Garden Park
 
memory on the grounds of Garden Park
Tower. He spent many happy, contempla-
+
Tower. He spent many happy, contemplative hours there, enjoying the beautiful
tive hours there, enjoying the beautiful
+
flowers. He is mourned by Lydia; sons Victor and Peter of Abbotsford; daughters
flowers. He is mourned by Lydia; sons Vic-
 
tor and Peter of Abbotsford; daughters
 
 
Ruth Heinrichs of Fresno, Calif; Elfrieda
 
Ruth Heinrichs of Fresno, Calif; Elfrieda
Hiebert of Santa Cruz, Calif; 5 grandchil-
+
Hiebert of Santa Cruz, Calif; 5 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; 2 sisters; 1 brother. The funeral was Jan. 20 in Bakerview MB
dren; 1 great-grandchild; 2 sisters; 1 broth-
 
er. The funeral was Jan . 20 in Bakerview MB
 
 
Church, Abbotsford, with Ray Harris, John
 
Church, Abbotsford, with Ray Harris, John
 
B. Toews and Michael Dick ministering.
 
B. Toews and Michael Dick ministering.

Latest revision as of 13:29, 24 July 2023

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2005 Mar 18 p. 29

Birth date: 1916 Aug 29

text of obituary:

PETER REGINALD (P.R.) TOEWS

Peter R. Toews died Jan. 15. He was born Aug. 29, 1916 in Waldheim, southern Ukraine, to Peter and Aganetha Toews. When he was 5, his parents were killed by a bomb. The 4 children were taken to live with relatives. Peter lived with the Abram Toews family. The family immigrated to Canada in 1926, settling on irrigation farmland in Coaldale, Alta. in 1928. Peter became responsible for the irrigation tasks. When his mother encouraged him to attend Bible school he refused because he was not a Christian. When the family went to church, he and his friends would either go to town or stay outside the church, enjoying themselves. At an evening service in January he accompanied his father to church but arrived too late to join his friends. That evening his parents prayed with him and he found peace. Romans 10:10 became his anchor. He attended Coaldale Bible School, then Prairie Bible Institute, Three Hills, Alta. He became Sunday school teacher of teenagers. He married Lydia Janz Apr. 17, 1941. They farmed but a hailstorm devastated most of their crops the first year. He became angry with God but during prayer week the next year, he was able to thank God for His leading, goodness and mercy. In 1943, B.B. Janz, the leader of Coaldale MB Church, invited him to preach a sermon the following Sunday. After the war he and Lydia both felt a call to ministry. They moved to Winnipeg to attend MB Bible College. Peter finished his high school and started theological studies. On weekends he would preach in different churches. He preached in Elmwood MB Church one Sunday evening and then was asked to preach every evening for a week. At the same time he had become speaker for the Gospel Light Hour, a weekly radio broadcast. After College he taught at Coaldale Bible School. He and Lydia, together with David and Lena Ewert, were ordained to ministry. He pastored churches in Hepburn, Sask., Vancouver, Dinuba, Calif., Winnipeg, Watrous, Sask. and Armstrong, B.C., and served as moderator of the Canadian MB Conference. He also taught at Columbia Bible Institute, Abbotsford, and served as president for 8 years. In 1986 he retired in Abbotsford to enjoy his hobbies of woodworking, fishing and growing roses. In 1997 they sold their house and moved to a condo in Garden Park Tower. When he had word that his sister Frieda had died in Kazakhstan, he planted a rose garden in her memory on the grounds of Garden Park Tower. He spent many happy, contemplative hours there, enjoying the beautiful flowers. He is mourned by Lydia; sons Victor and Peter of Abbotsford; daughters Ruth Heinrichs of Fresno, Calif; Elfrieda Hiebert of Santa Cruz, Calif; 5 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; 2 sisters; 1 brother. The funeral was Jan. 20 in Bakerview MB Church, Abbotsford, with Ray Harris, John B. Toews and Michael Dick ministering.

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