Taves, Harvey W. (1926-1965)

Revision as of 16:14, 25 February 2021

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 May 20 p. 1

Birth date: 1926 Mar 22

text of obituary:

Long-Time Canadian MCC Administrator Dies at Age 39

Kitchener, Ont. — Harvey W. Taves, 39, who for the past 12 years served as an administrator of the Mennonite Central Committee program in Canada, died her May 11.

Death was due to a heart attack after several days of hospitalization for treatment of pneumonia and a severe asthmatic condition.

Born in Steinbach, Man., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Toews, he received his early schooling at Steinbach and Altona, Man. He later attended Goshen College in Indiana, where he received the B. A. degree.

In 195t3 he was named Canadian MCC director with headquarters in Waterloo, Ont. and continued in that capacity until 1964. Since then he had been director of MCC Ontario. He was also continuing his studies at the University of New York, Buffalo.

Survivors include his widow, the former Iva Shirk; two daughters, eight and six years of age; two sisters and four brothers.

He was a member of the First Mennonite Church of Kitchener, where the funeral services were conducted on May 13.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 May 27 p. 11

text of obituary:

Kitchener, Ont. (MCC) — Harvey Wilbert Taves' life was marked with a fullness hardly betrayed by his 39 years, said a close friend after his death Tuesday, May 11.

“Above all Harvey was a Christian.” summarized Wilson Hunsberger, a long time friend and associate. “He expressed his faith to me on numerous occasions. And his dedication to serve his fellow man was manifestly expressed.”

“He was a very human person, candid in his expression on both the joys and pains of life. He was sincere and frank, avoiding pretense and equivocation, which were repugnant to his nature.”

This spring Taves wrote to a fellow administrator in the Mennonite Central Committee, “It has been wonderful to have been, and still to be, a part of the MCC program. It is my belief that this program is the most exciting part of the Mennonite witness.”

He began his service with the MCC in 1953, when he was appointed assistant director of the MCC's regional office in Waterloo, Ont. In 1964 he reduced his work load at the MCC office to one-quarter time to enable him to study toward an M. A. degree in Sociology at the University of Buffalo, N. Y. The recently reorganized provincial inter-Mennonite relief, peace, and service committee — MCC (Ontario) — invited him to serve as its executive director at a meeting on April 2.

Prior to joining the MCC, Taves graduated from Goshen College (1951), and studied one year at Goshen College Biblical Seminary (1952-53). Earlier he also spent a year at Grace Bible Institute, Omaha, Neb.

He was born March 22, 1926, in Winnipeg, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Toews, who now reside in Steinbach, Man. Besides his parents, he is survived by his wife, thee former Iva Sherk, a pathologist at the Kitchener-Waterloo Hospital; two daughters, Mila Joy and Mary Margaret, both at home; four brothers, and two sisters.

Funeral services were held at the First Mennonite Church, Kitchener, Thursday, May 13. A memorial service was held in the Conrad Grebel College Chapel immediately preceding the funeral.

The Mennonite obituary: 1965 Jun 1 p. 364