Toevs, William W. (1875-1956)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Jul 19 p. 6

Birth date: 1875 Dec 12

text of obituary:

— Funeral services for W. W. Toevs, 80-year-old Wichita resident, were held here Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. in the First Mennonite church, conducted by Rev. Geo. Stoneback, pastor of the Lorraine Ave. Mennonite church of Wichita, of which Mr. Toevs was a member. Assisting in the services were Rev. Harold Walker, pastor of the Wichita Friends church, and Dr. J. H. Langenwalter of North Newton. Mr. Toevs died Sunday at Wesley Hospital in Wichita, after an extended illness. He had been a salesman for the Wichita Flour Mills for 30 years. Survivors include his widow; one daughter, Florence, of Wichita; three sons, Willard F., Knoxville, Tenn., Roland R., Denver, and Waldo, Wichita; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. G. A. Entz and Mrs. C. F. Claassen, both of Newton; three brothers, Jacob and Henry of Newton and Rudolf of Nevada, Mo. Burial was made in the Greenwood cemetery.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1956 Jul 26 p. 8

text of obituary:

WILLIAM W. TOEVS

William W. Toevs was born Dec. 12, 1875, in Marienburg, Germany, the fourth son of Jacob R. and Helene Funk (Ensz) Toevs. the large family left Germany to settle on a farm in McLain, near Newton, Kansas, in September 1884, where J. R. Toevs became a minister of the First Mennonite Church.

William Toevs grew up on the farm at McLain and was baptized on May 21, 1893. the verse given to him at baptism was Matthew 16:24, "Jesus said, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me."

He attended country school and spent one year at Bethel College Academy. Late he studied at business college in Wichita completing the course of study there.

On May 3, 1906, he was married to Emma Schroeder. Four children were born to them: Willard F. of Knoxville, Tennessee, Florence Louise of Wichita, Roland R. of Denver, and Waldo C. of Wichita.

In 1918 the family moved to Wichita, where William had accepted a position as salesman with the Wichita Flour Mills Co., where he worked for over 31 years, retiring in 1953.

The family attended the Salem Evangelical Church for many years and in 1939 membership was transferred to the Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church. Here William served in many positions of leadership. For a number of years he served as deacon. At the time of his passing he was serving as senior deacon. In this capacity he has shared with the pastor the task of greeting worshippers as they leave the sanctuary.

In addition to the immediate family, he is survived by five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. G. A. Entz and Mrs. C. F. Claassen, and three brothers, Jacob F. and Henry H. of Newton, and Rudolph F. of Nevada, Missouri.

In May, Bro. and Sister Toevs celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. On Sunday, July 8, Bro Toevs went to the north door of the sanctuary as usual and greeted the departing worshippers. That afternoon he attended a church function, Open House at the parsonage. When he got back home he looked up the address of an older couple in the church who had just moved back to Wichita, in order to visit there the next day. But that morning he was found stricken. The following Sunday, July 15, the Master called once more saying, "Follow me to your room in my Father's mansion."

Funeral services were held July 18, at 9:00 a. m. at the Gill Mortuary in Wichita and at 11:15 a. m. at the First Mennonite church of newton. Rev. George Stoneback officiated, and was assisted in the church service by Rev. Harold Walker. Dr. J. H. Langenwalter was in charge of the committal service. Alvin Franz served as vocalist for both services. Organists were Waldo Pankratz and Sister Helen Marie Bartsch.

The Mennonite obituary: 1956 Aug 7 p. 508
The Mennonite obituary: 1956 Nov 27 p. 763