Obituary of Joseph Toews
Joseph Koop Toews, my dear husband, our father and grandfather was born to Adolph & Helena Koop Toews on May 12, 1935. He peacefully passed away surrounded by family on the eve of November 22, 2022, at Westview Care Community, Linden, AB. He entered the world in a little 12’x6’ grainery type building.
In 1944, a boy of 9 years old, he together with his family moved to Hudson, Ontario. The first year, they lived in a house with no water and sewer. A neighbor boy made Dad a pair of skis out of wooden barrel staves. Later his parents got him a pair of skis for $5 which he used a lot.
In 1947 the family moved back to Greenland, MB. The following year Dad took grade 7, which was his last year of school. Dad had to walk 2 ½ miles to school at times. After he was out of school, he worked off and on for his neighbor for 15 cents an hour. Later he worked at a sawmill in eastern Manitoba for the Penner brothers. They used swede and cross-cut saws to fall trees. This was the start of many winters being spent in the bush even after they moved to northern Alberta.
In the spring of 1953, Dad came to Alberta. He worked several years for his uncle Ed Klassen doing carpentry. During that time Dad became a member of the Church of God in Christ Mennonite. Dad was a man of simple faith and remained faithful to the end. That same year he also started his welding career at Linden Machine Works where he received his welding license.
On June 7, 1959, Dad married Charlotte Wiebe of Linden, AB. They were blessed with 4 daughters. Dawn and Becky were born in Three Hills, AB. Staphene and Veronica were born in Spirit River, AB, after they moved to a homestead in Silver Valley, AB.
Times were tough then, but the neighbors were always willing to help each other out.
Dad ran road grader for the county for 1 ½ years. The next 10 ½ years were spent driving school bus. During that time, he started his backhoe career. He dug many water lines and graves and worked on many oil rig sites. He owned his own backhoe service for approximately 30 years.
In 1979 Lyla joined the family as a foster child. Later she was adopted and became a member of the family. Dad was a simple man, and he could always fix anything. He was always there for us and would drop his work to help us out. As he had no sons, Dad taught us girls how to do many projects on the farm, fencing, running tractor, choring livestock, and cleaning the barn. He taught us to be independent. He would also help neighbors with welding and repairs when needed.
Those who will miss him dearly are; his wife Charlotte; 4 daughters Dawn Toews, Stony Plain, AB, Becky & Stanton Johnson, smith, AB, Staphene & Lorne Reimer, Hythe, AB, Veronica & Kendall Unruh, Copeland, KS; 2 brothers Danny (Linda) Toews, Doug (Leah) Toews; brother-in-law Claude (Mildred) Wiebe; and sister-in-law Betty Jantz; 15 grandchildren; and 17 great grandchildren.
Those gone before are his parents, 3 sisters, his parents-in-law, 6 brothers-in-law, 4 sisters-in-law and his adopted daughter.
Our heartfelt thanks to Westview Care Community for the care they have given Dad the last several years.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Joseph
Toews 1935 2022..
Décès pour la Ville: Linden, Province: Alberta