Toews, Katharina Fehdrau (1878-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Nov 25 p. 8

Birth date: 1878

text of obituary:

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• Funeral services for Mrs. Katharina Toews, 92, were held Saturday afternoon at the Bethel Church near Inman, with Rev. Paul Isaak officiating. Mrs. Toews died Nov. 16 at Pleasant View Home, Inman, where she was a resident. She was born in South Russia, and married Abraham Toews at Inman in 1898. He died in 1935. Among the survivors are four sons, Aaron of Nickerson, Abe of Hutchinson, Frank of Newton, and John of Buhler; two daughters, Mrs. Sarah Thiessen of Buhler and Mrs. Katheryn Ensz of Halstead; 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Dec 16 p. 11

text of obituary:

MRS. A. H. TOEWS

Mrs. Katharina Fehdrau Toews was born on Nov. 24, 1878, to Aaron and Marie Willems Fehdrau at Furstenwerder, South Russia. She was less than a year old when her parents came to the United States, settling in the Inman, Kan. community in 1879.

On June 7, 1897, she was baptized upon her confession of faith in Jesus Christ by Elder Dietrich Gaeddert and became a member of the Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church near Inman. On Feb. 24, 1898, she was united in marriage to Abraham H. Toews. At that time she joined the Bethel Mennonite Church, Inman, of which she remained a faithful member until her passing.

After marriage she and her husband farmed in the Buhler community. He died on May 1, 1935. In 1936 she moved to Inman. She lived in her own home until 1963, when she moved to the Pleasant View Home, Inman. She was a resident of the Home at the time of death on Nov. 16, 1971. She would have been 93 years old on Nov. 24.

Out of a deep commitment to her Lord she had a concern for missions and relief activities. Her mission interest became more personal when her son Henry and family served as missionaries to the Congo. Through the years she found ways of giving herself to the cause of relief. As long as she was able she worked at quilting and sewing. In recent years she spent much time snipping remnants for pillow stuffing. She was able to do this until shortly before her death.

She was faithful and regular in attendance to church services until this past summer. She enjoyed singing and found much comfort and help in the Scriptures. On the Sunday evening before her passing, even in her weak condition, she was able to whisper the words of her favorite hymns as the family sang for her.

She was the last of her immediate family to pass on to Eternity. Preceding her in death were her husband; a son, Jacob, who died in infancy; a son, Henry; and a daughter, Marie.

Survivors include: two daughters, Sarah and husband Isaac C. Thiessen of Buhler and Kathryn and husband Jake Ensz of Halstead; four sons, Aaron and wife Susan of Nickerson, Abe and wife Tillie of Hutchinson, Frank and wife Marietta of Newton, John and wife Kathryn of Buhler; one daughter-in-law, Mrs. Mary Toews, of Inman; 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at the Bethel Mennonite Church, Inman, on Nov. 20, 1971, with Rev. Paul Isaak officiating. Burial was in the South Inman Cemetery.

The Mennonite obituary: 1971 Dec 21 p. 772