Toevs, Anna Penner (1889-1954)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Feb 25 p. 5

Birth date: 1889 Oct 15

text of obituary:

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— Mrs. G. R. Toevs passed away suddenly Tuesday evening at the Bethel Home for Aged where she resided and also assisted with household duties. Although suffering with a heart ailment for some time, she had been up and around. She was found seated in a chair about 8:30 p.m. and had evidently been reading at the time of her death. Funeral services are to be held Friday at 2:00 p.m. in the Sister Frieda Memorial Chapel and 2:30 o’clock at the First Mennonite church. Surviving are two step-children, Irvin Toevs of Newton and Mrs. Paul Bartsch of Topeka.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Mar 4 p. 6

text of obituary:

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— Funeral services for Mrs. Anna Toevs, 64, wife of the late G. R. Toevs, were held at the Sister Frieda Memorial Chapel and at the First Mennonite church Friday afternoon. Mrs. Toevs died of heart attack, Tuesday evening, Feb. 23, while sitting in a chair in her room at the Bethel Home for Aged. The services at the chapel were in charge of Rev. P. P. Buller, after which services in the church and at the graveside in Greenwood cemetery were conducted by her pastor, Rev. D. J. Unruh. The funeral was largely attended, many relatives and friends having come also from Beatrice, Nebr., Mrs. Toevs’ former home.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Mar 11 p. 9

text of obituary:

MRS. ANNA PENNER TOEVS

It was Tuesday evening; the day with its manifold duties had come to a close; a few short hours, and the world would be asleep, in quietness and tranquility.

In this calm and solemn atmosphere Jesus came to our dear Anna, gently and tenderly to take her Home, to be with Him whom she loved and served. Thus we found her sitting so peacefully, in her easy chair, having answered her Master’s call. It was Sister Helene Marie Bartsch who found her, still radiant, but oh so quiet.

We gathered around the quiet form of our departed with heavy hearts, thanking God for His wonderful grace with His beloved children.

“There is a place of quiet rest, Near to the heart of God;”

Mrs. Anna Penner Toevs was born at Beatrice, Neb. October 15, 1889, being the tenth child born to Rev. and Mrs. J. K. Penner.

Happy childhood days were spent in the parental home, maturing under the sound of the Word, and the singing of many hymns and various songs. She attended parochial school taught by her father. Later she attended Bethel College for one year, and State Teacher’s Normal School at Peru, Neb. and entered the teaching, profession.

She was baptized, and joined the Mennonite church, being a faithful worker in Sunday school. She loved children dearly, telling them the Bible stories and teaching them many songs and hymns. After years of teaching she went home, caring for her aging parents. Here many opportunities were given to pave the way into hearts of nieces and nephews, teaching them in Sunday school. To know her was to love her; therefore she was everybody’s “Tante Anna.” She endeared herself to the motherless nieces and nephews of the family in unselfish service.

In November 1934 she was married to Gustav Toevs, Newton, and left Nebraska to make her home here. The Lord granted five short years of happy married life. She joined with the First Mennonite church in Newton, and remained a faithful member in her church affiliation. It was during these years that she taught the Bethel Sunday School class for some time.

On February 24, 1940, the Lord called her husband home, leaving her, Irvin and Frankie Toevs, Paul and Esther Bartsch and family to carry on. She has received the love and affection in every possible way of the bereaved children and God the Father has been with them.

Whenever God closes a door another opens, with new obligations and responsibilities. The following years she served the Lord by caring for the aged and ailing ones at the Bethel Home, endearing herself to many. After years of experience in the field of practical nursing, she took the State Board examination and was qualified as a Licensed Practical Nurse in the state of Kansas and served in the Bethel Hospital in the nursing field.

In 1951 God guided the steps of her niece, Anna Marie (Bartsch) Spallinger and husband, to her home here in Newton, to be cared for by her, being afflicted with a lingering illness. In spite of care and many, many prayers—hope faded away. The heavenly Father gave strength and faith during days of illness, and long nights of suffering, until the Lord caller Anna Marie to her eternal Home

A severe heart attack 17 months ago left her in a weakened condition, to the extent that she entered the Bethel Home. These months of Grace proved to her daily that her heavenly Father watches over all. We praise His Holy name for His many mercies bestowed on her. We will miss her but are comforted, knowing that she is with the Lord.

She leaves to cherish her memories: Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Toevs, Newton, Mr. and Mrs. Paul W. Bartsch and family, Topeka, Kansas, and the following brothers and sisters: Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Claassen, Beatrice, Nebr., Mr. and Mrs. Henry Claassen, Beatrice, Nebr., Mr. and Mrs. P. D. Claassen, Newton, Kansas, Mr. and Mrs. John J. Penner, Beatrice, Nebr., Rev. and Mrs. Wm. Penner, Goshen, Conn., Dr. and Mrs. C. L. Penner, Berea, Ohio, and many nieces, nephews and their children, and a host of friends.