George Jacob Toews 91, of 4649 First Street in Yarrow, died Saturday Aug 8 1981 in Abbotsford's Menno Home.
He was born on May 5, 1891 in Heinrichsfeldt, Russia to Jacob Peter & Margareta (Wiens) Toews. The family moved to Ufa when he was nine and, at the age of 16, he became a Christina, was baptized and became a member of the Mennonite Brethren Church.
In 1909 he took a teaching position at Podolsk, Neu Samara. In 1914, he was inducted into the army and served as an ambulance driver, before returning to teaching in 1917.
In 1918, he married Eva Janzen, and they had two children, one of which died in infancy. After three years of marriage, his wife died.
In 1922, he married Helena Stobbe. Three of their children passed away in infancy. In 1927, the Toews family immigrated to Croll, Manitoba, Canada, where they farmed for 10 years. In 1937, they moved to Yarrow, B.C., where George once again farmed. In 1952 he was seriously ill with leukemia, but was restored in answer to many prayers. George & Helen celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1972. They moved to Clearbrook in 1981.
He was predeceased by daughter Margaret Wiens in 1966. He is survived by his wife Helen; children: Lena & Albert Scheer, Irma & John Krahn, Marion & Herman Krone, George & Elfrieda Toews, Elsie & Victor Wittenberg, Elizabeth (Betty) & Peter Klassen, Elvera & Albert Heinrichs and son-in-law Peter Wiens; 25 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
The funeral was held in the Yarrow Mennonite Brethren Church with Rev. Henry Claassen, Peter Klassen and Pastor Abe Esau officiating. Pall bearers were Michael & Mark Krone, Ken Scheer, George & Robert Toews and Raymond Scheer. Interment was in Yarrow Cemetery.
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