With thankful hearts for having our father and husband Julius Toews with us for 89 years, we announce his peaceful passing in the early hours of August 8, 2019 at his home, surrounded by his family.
Left to treasure his memory are his wife Judith, son Clinton (Judy) and daughter Valerie (Ian); granddaughter Ashley (Justin); brothers Jake, Jack (Pat), Dick (Jean), Pete (Elsie); sisters Helen, Gertrude, Ann, Sue (Larry), Neta, Agatha (Don); brothers and sisters-in-law Howard, Irene, Val, Robert (Ilene) and Cora (Tony) as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
Dad was pre-deceased by his beloved grandson Tyler, parents Helena and Abram; siblings Agatha (age 7), Mary (John), Bill (Marge), Abe (Anne), Dave, Tina (Jim); brother and sister-in-laws Isabelle (Eric), Vick (Dodo), Mickey, Helen, Eva (Leifur), Don (Lara), Rose (Jim), Trudy (Mindy), Gerry, Gladys and George.
Dad was born February 18,1930 on the family farm near Myrtle, MB. He attended Forest Elementary School, near Carmen, MB. He left home to work at the Burns Meat Plant in Winnipeg, then in a fruit basket factory in Beamsville, ON. With a new 1950 Ford pickup he and his brother Jake travelled to Vanderhoof, BC to work highway construction. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy as Ordinary Seaman in Cornwallis, NS in 1953. Following that, he worked at Motor Coach Industries, galvanizing vehicle parts.
He married Judith Malcolm on July 16, 1955 at Westminster United Church, in Winnipeg, in a ceremony officiated by Rev. Quigley.
He and Mom moved to Kenora, ON in the summer of 1956 where Dad worked as a mechanic at Lake of the Woods Motors, TransCanada Pipelines, then Kenora Motor Products as a vehicle appraiser and re-conditioner. In 1966 he became a Correctional Officer at the Kenora District Jail retiring in 1988.
After retirement, Mom and Dad moved to a hobby farm near Lundar, MB, which was Dad’s dream. In 1993, they moved to Oliver, BC where Dad worked 12 years helping establish The Okanagan Gleaners, a charitable organization gleaning excess fruits and vegetables to feed the hungry worldwide.
In 2012, Dad and Mom moved to Dugald, MB and remained there until 2018 when they moved into Winnipeg.
Dad’s focus was first and foremost his wife and family, but was loved by many. Dad was a kid magnet. He was a strong role model for many of our childhood friends as we grew up. He was a jack-of-all trades and could repair anything. He was an avid outdoorsman, teaching his children how to canoe, camp, fish, water ski, swim; he became a kid when with kids.
Dad suffered a heart attack in 2007 resulting in triple by-pass surgery and a slow decline in his health until the end.
A funeral service is planned for Tuesday, August 13 at 1pm at Seasons Funeral Chapel , 576 Balsam Crescent, Oakbank, MB. Interment to follow at the nearby Sunnyside Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the following people for their love and support: Yuri, a care aide who took special interest in Dad 18 months ago and helped him eat again; the nursing staff and Speech Pathologist at the Seven Oaks Hospital where Dad had his last hospital stay; the home care workers whose physical and moral support lessened the work load for Mom.
And special thanks to his 91 year-old brother Jake, who was exceptionally close to Dad, and often travelled from Kenora to visit him over the last 7 years.
Lastly, thank you to other friends and family who made special time to visit Dad while he was bedridden.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dandelion Society of Victoria, BC or Siloam Mission in Winnipeg, MB. Both support the less fortunate in our society.
Read Less
Thursday August 8th 2019
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Julius Toews..
Death notice for the town of: Oakbank, Province: Manitoba