Toews, Nicolei J. (1895-1953)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1953 Nov 26 p. 9

Birth date: 1895 Oct 25

text of obituary:

NICOLEI J. TOEWS

Nicolei J. Toews, son of Jacob F. and Helena Lohrenz Toews, was born on Oct. 25, 1895. He spent the early years of his youth in the parental home on a farm four miles north of Mountain Lake, Minn. He attended the district school in the country, and later attended the Mt. Lake Bible school. He also spent a winter term at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.

He received catechetical instruction and was baptized upon the confession of his faith by Rev. H. H. Regier on June 7, 1914, thus being received as a member in the Bethel church. He remained a faithful member until his departure and will be remembered as one who took an active interest in the work of the church. He gave much of his time to work in the Sunday School and the church choir as long as he was able to do so.

He was united in holy wedlock with Marie Stoesz on Sept. 14, 1923, and together they shared life’s experiences for thirty years. Soon after his marriage it became apparent that his health was beginning to fail; thus it was that they were closely knit together in the sharing of years of illness in the home. Two children were born to this union: Novalis of Whitewater, Kansas and Willard Milton, who passed away at the age of 13 months. After two years on the farm the family moved to Mountain Lake where they resided the following years.

Due to the nature of his illness he spent a year in the Bethel hospital and then went to the Eventide Home where he remained until his death. On Sunday morning, Nov. 1, it became apparent that his strength was failing and on Monday morning at 6:40 a.m. he quietly slipped away to be with the Lord. He attained the age of 58 years and eight days. He was preceded in death by his father and his son Willard, who passed, away in 1928.

He leaves to mourn his departure his wife, Marie, who so faithfully served him through the long years of his illness; a son, Novalis, and his wife, Pauline; one grandson, Stewart Keith; his mother, Mrs. Helena Toews; three brothers, Jacob J. of Mountain Lake, Gerhard of Freeman, South Dakota, Rudolf of Ringwood, Okla.; three sisters, Helena — Mrs. Jacob L. Friesen, Elizabeth — Mrs. John S. Friesen, and Marie; and many other relatives and friends.

The Mennonite obituary: 1953 Dec 1 p. 752