Toews, John (1922-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Jul 12 p. 25

Birth date: 1922 Sep 24

text of obituary:

JOHN TOEWS

John Toews passed away Apr. 4. He was born Sept. 24, 1922 to Gerhard and Katharina Toews in Davlekanovo, Ufa, Russia . After the communists confiscated all their possessions, the family fled to Krassikov, Neu Samara, to his father's half-sister in Ukraine in 1937, then to Sergafka. He accepted Christ on Good Friday, 1942 and was baptized in September 1942 in the Dniepr River. In fall 1943 the family fled to Warthegau, Poland. In June 1944 he was drafted into the German army. His parents gave him Psalm 121 as a blessing. He was wounded at the Russian front and taken to a hospital in Vienna, where he became a prisoner of war. He was taken to Dresden, Germany and released. He travelled to a farm in Gronau, Germany, where cousin Maria Toews worked. He learned that his parents had been sent back to Russia, where they eventually starved to death. In summer 1952 he immigrated to Canada, welcomed as a son by the Nick Sieberts, in Greendale, B.C. In Vancouver, he worked at Aylmer Vegetable Cannery, wholesale distributor Nutty Club and J.R. Murray Plywood Factory. Beginning in 1954, he laid hardwood floors for 5 years, then switched to linoleum floors and countertops. He married Annie Voth Apr. 23, 1960. They attended Vancouver and Culloden MB Churches. He was Sunday school treasurer, ordered Sunday school material and helped pack Christmas bags for children for many years. He enjoyed singing with the Ambassador Choir and Union Gospel Mission. He started his own business, Toews Floors Co . They had a wonderful, happy life. They enjoyed trips with their children to Alberta and vacationed in Osoyoos, B.C. for several years. In 1981, after he had open-heart surgery, the doctor gave him 10 years to live. In 1983 they moved to Clearbrook, B.C., where he did the occasional job, retiring at 65. He volunteered at the MCC furniture store. They attended Ross Road Community Church, Abbotsford, where he sang in the senior choir. In October 2001, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He is mourned by Annie; daughters Ruth, Lorna, Marian, Linda and Anita; and 14 grandchildren. The memorial service was held Apr. 9 in Ross Road Community Church.