Henry Toews

Henry Toews​ March 18, 1917 to June 20, 2016 I was born on March 18, 1917, in the village of Lugowsk, New Samara, Russia. In the fall of 1924, my parents, Henry and Helen Toews, together with their children, emigrated to Canada, arriving in Rosthern Saskatchewan that November. For the first winter we lived in the Waldheim area. I attended schools in various districts, including Waldheim, Colonsay, Viscount, Young, and Guernsey. Already in the early years of my life the sin problem was a real concern to me. It was the Lord’s doing to bring about conviction of sin. Not only was there conviction but also repentance and forgiveness. In faith I accepted Jesus as my Saviour. I rely on the promise in his word, such as in John 3:36: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” On August 9, 1931, I followed the Lord in baptism and was received into the Philadelphia M.B. Church, Watrous, Saskatchewan. The Lord has allowed me to serve in various church ministries including Sunday School, the deaconate, the church board, as registrar, and a moderator. During World War II, I served for somewhat over two years as a conscientious objector in the Alternative Service Camps in Banff and Vancouver Island. In 1948 I had the blessed experience of being united in marriage with a God-fearing woman named Agatha Regier. Together we have endeavoured to walk the straight and narrow way, realizing that strength and power must come from Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. The Lord blessed us with seven children, who have shown us love and respect. Farming has been an interesting and challenging experience. In 1991, we moved into our new home in Watrous. We have been blessed with the loving kindness of our Heavenly Father and with the psalmist I would like to say, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy” (Ps 103.8). In his goodness the Lord has increased our family. May no one be missing on that glorious day when our Saviour, the Lord of the Universe, the Great I Am, the Altogether Lovely One will appear to take us unto himself, where we shall be like him. The family thanks the doctors, nurses, and the staff of the Watrous District Health Complex for their care and compassion during our father’s illness. We are forty-two family members: five children with their wives—Daniel (Rita), Wesley (Sherry), Lester (Karen), Karen (Richard), Allan (Kerri); thirteen grandchildren, several of them married—Martin, Britany (Paul), Kinsey (Amanda), DeLayne, Kelsi, Lisa, Mitchell, Jeffery (Erin), Michael (Wendy), Samuel (Jaylin), Woodrow (Alana), Brianne, Nicole; and thirteen great grandchildren—Clara, Theo, Lyle, Addison, Nolan, Brodie, Riley, Kara, John, Travis, Dawn, Avalie, and McKinley. He is survived by sister Elvira, brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.