Toews, Cornelius David (1900-1970)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1971 Feb 05 p. 30

Birth date: 1900 Mar 19

text of obituary:

CORNELIUS DAVID TOEWS

Rev. Cornelius David Toews of 2581 Minter Street, Clearbrook, B.C., passed away on December 29, at the age of 70 years. The funeral was conducted in the Clearbrook MB Church on January 2, with Rev. Rudy Willms officiating. He was born in 1900 in the Orenburg settlement, Russia. At the age of 17 he accepted the Lord as his Saviour and was baptised into the local Mennonite Brethren Church. After four years of service as a public school teacher he emigrated to Canada with his young wife in 1926. He was a public school teacher in Manitoba for 14 years. At the age of 36 the Niverville Church ordained him to the ministry. The family moved to B.C. in 1943, where he preached in the C.O. camps during the war years. After continuing studies in music, he taught music in the Mennonite Brethren private highschools in Clearbrook and Yarrow for 15 years. He was also entrusted with promoting the MB choirs in B.C., and the Canadian Conference. He worked with choir leaders and singers throughout the provinces. In 1961 he was called by the MCC to work in Europe with the Mennonite Bible School in Switzerland, also ministering to the Mennonite church in Frankfurt, and the Mennonite Brethren mission in Heidelberg. From 1964 he served as pastor of the East Aldergrove Church, B.C., and conducted a radio broadcast, "Stimme des Evangeliums." In 1966 his wife passed away, and the following year he remarried. In August, 1970, he resigned as pastor, but continued the radio ministry which he loved. He is survived by his wife Anna; six sons: Neil and Harry, Kamloops, B.C.; Walter, Vancouver; John and Nell Peters, Winnipeg; Handy Peters, Clearbrook; five daughters: Mrs. L. (Clara) De Heck, Phoenix, Arizona; Mrs. J. (Nellie) Krahn, North Vancouver; Mrs. H. (Lily) Allert, Merritt, B.C.; Mrs. W (Anna) Penner, Elm Creek, Manitoba; Mrs. C. (Elvin) Neufeld, Winnipeg; 24 grandchildren; two brothers, Jacob and John.