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Rev Peter P. Toews

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Rev Peter P. Toews

Birth	:	24 Jul 1841 Russia
Death	:	2 Nov 1922 Swalwell, Strathmore Census Division, Alberta, Canada
Burial	:	Linden Mennonite Cemetery, Linden, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate	:	51.5902894, -113.4504491
Description	:	First a Kleine Gemeinde elder, Peter Toews (24 July 1841-2 November 1922) later became a Church of God in Christ Mennonite elder. He was born at Fischau, Molotschna, South Russia, the youngest son of Johann Töws (1793-1873) and Elizabeth Harder. He joined the Kleine Gemeinde in 1861. On 12 November 1863, he was united in marriage with Anna Warkentin. He was ordained as a minister in 1866, and as elder in 1870. Toews was instrumental in unifying three factions of this denomination. In the early seventies he was sent to St. Petersburg and later to Yalta to interview the... Read More	First a Kleine Gemeinde elder, Peter Toews (24 July 1841-2 November 1922) later became a Church of God in Christ Mennonite elder. He was born at Fischau, Molotschna, South Russia, the youngest son of Johann Töws (1793-1873) and Elizabeth Harder. He joined the Kleine Gemeinde in 1861. On 12 November 1863, he was united in marriage with Anna Warkentin. He was ordained as a minister in 1866, and as elder in 1870. Toews was instrumental in unifying three factions of this denomination. In the early seventies he was sent to St. Petersburg and later to Yalta to interview the Tsar, and was prominent in the emigration movement to Canada. With the last 30 families of his group he sailed from Nikopol on 4 May 1875, and on 29 June arrived near Niverville along the Red River in Manitoba. He then settled in Grünfeld. Endowed with a keen craving for knowledge, Toews read and studied constantly and prayerfully, comparing the Scriptures with the works of earlier writers. With a large part of his flock he joined the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, (Holdeman Church) in 1882, and was ordained anew to the ministry on 11 January 1882. His sermons were clear and sound, as were also his many articles of Scripture exposition published in the Botschafter der Wahrheit. For many years he was editor of this publication, the official German-language organ of the denomination. Many of his numerous poems and pamphlet articles were published in periodicals. Many of his hymns are contained in the Liederbuch der Gemeinde Gottes, the first two editions of which he edited. He translated several works from the Dutch into the German language. He corresponded with a number of the leaders of his day, and he was a moderator of the general conference. Between 1900-11 he lived at Hochstadt, Manitoba, and on retiring from active service moved to Swalwell, Alberta. Although almost blind during the last years, he continued to study and write. He died on 2 November 1922, at the age of 81 years, after 56 years of consecrated service, and was buried in the Linden Mennonite Cemetery at Linden, Alberta. -From Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (GAMEO). Obituary written by his oldest son Peter P. W. Toews, translated into English by Ralph Friesen, published in German in the Mennonitische Rundscau, December 6, 1922. English translation published in Preservings, Issue 35, 2015: Dear Editor and Rundschau readers, a heart-felt greeting to all who know us. Since it has pleased God to call home our beloved father Peter Toews, where he now can find repose from his work, and since we have such a large circle of relatives and friends from almost everywhere that we Mennonites are living, so it has been asked of me to write something for the Rundschau of Father's very active life's journey, and his death. Our father Peter Toews was born in 1841 on July 24 in Fischau, where he also spent his youthful years. In 1863 he entered into matrimony with Anna Warkentin, our mother, who survives him. In his 25th year he was called to the ministry. In 1875 they, with many others emigrated to America, where they settled in the village of Grunfeld, Manitoba. When in time their sons began to search for homes of their own and settled here in Alberta, they again decided to move from their home, so as to be together with their children. At the same time Mother's eyesight began to weaken, so that it was feared that she would become totally blind. So in December, 1911, they moved from Hochstadt [Manitoba] where they had lived for the previous two years so as to be close to the newly built church, to Alberta, where in the meantime three of their sons had built them a home. Here they lived together for 11 years. As a result of Father's love of gardening, for which he always found time in addition to his spiritual work, there is now a beautiful grove of trees, similar to the one they had at their home in Grunfeld, but more extensive. When Mother became blind as had been feared, Father became for her an irreplaceable companion and comforter; often we found them singing together, or Father would tell her stories of his life. In his last years, however, his heart troubles became so painful that speaking became very hard for him. But he had to try to speak loudly, as Mother, in addition to her blindness, had become hard of hearing. In spite of having to make such strenuous efforts it always remained his concern to help Mother pass the time as well as possible, until, perhaps just a few minutes before the end of his life, his granddaughter (our daughter Marie, who was alone with him) heard him say to Mother, whether she would not want him to stop speaking, as he almost could not manage it anymore. Soon after she [Marie] heard a thud, and ran quickly into his room, where she found her grandfather lying on the floor by her grandmother's chair, still breathing. Then she ran quickly to the phone to call for help but was not able to reach anyone, as it seemed all were at the funeral of the old Grandfather Peter Toews. Finally someone answered, and took it upon himself to go to the church to inform people of what had happened. When Marie went back to the room, she was just able to see him exhaling his last breath. So it happened that this grandchild, who from early childhood had been first a companion and then a caregiver to her grandparents, was given the opportunity, so to speak, to perform the last service needed by her grandfather on this earth. For when he had fallen, she supported his head with a pillow, and then, after his soul had fled from him, she was the one who pressed shut his weary eyes; all this she will never forget. And so for more than half an hour he lay there as if asleep, until the first of those who had been in the church came and picked him up from the floor and laid him on the sofa. In the church they had just sang the last song and put the body in the earth, when the messenger came. The gathering was implored to be still for a few moments and then Brother Baerg informed them of what had happened. Many hurried away, to find the situation as has already been described. Father died on November 2, at 4 in the afternoon. He leaves behind our mother, four sons and one daughter, 22 grandchildren and on great-grandchild, to mourn his departure. Seven children predeceased him.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Rev Peter P. Toews's memorial?
Rev Peter P. Toews's memorial is located at: Linden Mennonite Cemetery, Linden, Strathmore Census Division, Canada.
When did Rev Peter P. Toews death?
Rev Peter P. Toews death on 2 Nov 1922 in Swalwell, Strathmore Census Division, Alberta, Canada
Where are the coordinates of the Rev Peter P. Toews's memorial?
Latitude: 51.5902894
Longitude: -113.4504491

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Anna Warkentin Toews

(1843 - 1925)

Siblings

Cornelius P. Toews

(1836 - 1908)

(unknow - unknow)

Children

unexist

(unknow - unknow)

Maria “Mary” Toews Wiebe

(1877 - 1951)

Johann Warkentin “John” Toews

(1880 - 1975)

(1881 - 1961)

(unknow - unknow)

(unknow - unknow)

(1887 - 1976)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Linden Mennonite Cemetery
Linden, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.5902894, -113.4504491

2. Swalwell Cemetery
Swalwell, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.5608788, -113.3186264

3. Acme Cemetery
Acme, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.5042000, -113.5223236

4. Mount Davis Cemetery
Three Hills, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.6851900, -113.4061600

5. Maerz Cemetery
Three Hills, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.6964500, -113.4533000

6. Three Hills Hutterite Cemetery
Three Hills, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.6221561, -113.2767972

7. Church of God Cemetery
Acme, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.4749700, -113.6034000

8. Three Hills Cemetery
Three Hills, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.7068214, -113.2829514

9. St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery
Three Hills, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.7068400, -113.2818300

10. Valleyview Hutterite Colony Cemetery
Torrington, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.7368108, -113.6417959

11. Zion United Church Cemetery
Beiseker, Calgary Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.3871400, -113.4550600

12. Carbon Cemetery
Carbon, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.5027520, -113.1452880

13. Saint Mary's Cemetery
Beiseker, Calgary Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.3885000, -113.5393300

14. Beiseker Community Cemetery
Beiseker, Calgary Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.3807400, -113.5683800

15. Torrington East Lutheran Cemetery
Torrington, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.7953500, -113.5942600

16. Torrington West Cemetery
Torrington, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.7949100, -113.6396700

17. Freudental Carbon Cemetery
Carbon, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.4165200, -113.1936200

18. Beiseker Level Land Seventh-day Adventist Cemetery
Beiseker, Calgary Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.3688812, -113.2850571

19. Beiseker Hutterite Colony Cemetery
Beiseker, Calgary Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.3914510, -113.6809110

20. Christ Church Anglican Cemetery
Ghost Pine Creek, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.7067500, -113.0988500

21. Sandhills Hutterite Colony Cemetery
Beiseker, Calgary Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.3371908, -113.3763910

22. Bethel Carbon Cemetery
Carbon, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.4164520, -113.1447840

23. Meehan Cemetery
Trochu, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.8092400, -113.2214900

24. St. Anne of the Prairies Catholic Cemetery
Trochu, Strathmore Census Division, Canada
Coordinate: 51.8096960, -113.2213740