Obituary for Harvey Toews - Kingsville Celebration Centre
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Harvey Peter Toews was born in Greenland Manitoba to Jacob G. and Anna Toews on August 9th, 1923. That same day his three year old sister passed away, succumbing to the dreaded disease of diphtheria. Harvey grew up in the home of his parents during his formative years and attended the North Greenland School through the eighth grade. During his late teen years he attended a series of revival meetings at the Greenland church and became burdened with his sins and felt the need of a savior. Later, his father passed away when Harvey was only 22 years old, placing on him additional responsibilities. During his time at Greenland, Manitoba, his youth and enthusiasm made his visits with his brothers and sisters and their families an experience to anticipate.
Sometime in the mid 50’s, Harvey purchased a new Ford Mercury and went out to the west coast to seek his fortunes, living in the area of Abbotsford, British Columbia. His older sister Mary with her husband Aaron Wiebe and family also lived there. In British Columbia, Harvey worked for a contractor who engaged in commercial construction. Harvey was one of the construction workers who built the notable Deas Island Tunnel that was opened for traffic on July of 1959. Later he was employed by Canada Post as a mailman.
In the early 60’s, Harvey relocated to Southern Ontario where his brother Edward lived with his family. He resided in Toronto and for a number of years worked on the assembly line and painting department of the Ford Motor Company where Harvey became noted for his skill in painting. Soon the Post Office called, and Harvey applied for a job at Canada Post. He worked there until his retirement.
His nieces and nephews of the Ed Toews family have many warm memories of our interaction with Uncle Harvey during the last sixty years of his life while he resided in Ontario. He very seldom turned down the occasion to come for our Christmas gathering, or any other special event. Singing was one of his loves as he joined the family in song. He would keep us enthralled with lengthy recitations of poems and bible verses. His life in Toronto was very eventful and he shared many interesting experiences mostly good but some very difficult. Uncle Harvey had empathy for the lonely and down trodden. Homeless men on the street were at times offered a meal and there were elderly people that he had a close relationship with. It wasn’t unusual that one of his many friends would come along with him when he visited us. He many times referred to the St. Marys congregation as “his church”.
Uncle Harvey was self sufficient for most of his life and though he reached out to others, he would seldom expect assistance. The time came when he needed to relinquish his independence and rely on his nephews to help with life’s needs. With their assistance in June of 2014, Uncle Harvey moved into the Chartwell Retirement Home at Kingsville Ontario where he would be closer to his nephew. Here he resided for the remainder of his life. Initially he found this very difficult but we rejoiced when the time came that he could submit to the loving care that he received from his dedicated care givers. During the first four years at Chartwell Uncle Harvey’s great niece, Shana was his primary care giver and they established a close bond. Those that cared for Uncle Harvey were impressed and inspired by his prayers at meal time, spiritual comments and advice, and humorous anecdotes that were dropped unexpectedly. Uncle Harvey, in his later years desired to make his salvation sure. Those of his family can testify that he seemed to become soft hearted as he submitted to his trying circumstances. His mind and health began to fail during the last years of his life and communication became a challenge. However, it was obvious that he loved his caregivers and they loved him in return. Uncle Harvey would always have a warm smile of recognition when his family came to visit him. On Saturday, March 18, of this year we received notice that Uncle Harvey’s departure from this life was eminent. We, as his nephews in Ontario expected that we would have time to come to his bedside and hold his hand as he passed into the other world, but his Savior called and he couldn’t wait. Around 11 PM of that same evening Uncle Harvey quietly and peacefully passed over the river. Today we feel that he is in the arms of Jesus.
Harvey P Toews is survived by many loved and loving nieces and nephews;Peter Esau, Helen Esau McLennan, Elma Riemer Giesbrecht, Susan Riemer Barkman, Donald Riemer, Kenneth Wiebe, Russell Wiebe, Henry Wiebe, Hugh Wiebe, Daniel Wiebe, Neil Loewen, Joan Penner Weeks, Edith Penner Nagle, Paul Toews, Robert Toews, Elvera Toews Penner, Fred Toews, Chester Toews, Russell Toews, Rosemarie Toews Loewen, Deanna Toews Treadway , Gloria Toews Foth , Delores Toews Dunn, Allan Riemer, Carol Riemer Arendt, David Riemer, Robert Riemer, Wilmer Isaac, Corinne Isaac, Lois Isaac Thiessen, Leon Isaac, Richard Isaac, Juanita Isaac, Stuart Isaac.
Family and friends will gather at Kendrick Funeral Home (91 Division St. S., Kingsville, ON) on Thursday, March 23, 2023, for visitation from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 23 at 2 p.m. at Kendrick Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating Minister will be Robert Toews. A burial will be held at a later date at Kirkden Woodham Union Cemetery in St. Mary’s, Ontario.
https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=bdd5dcd3-8879-4659-8cdb-5cc4ee2d397e
Harvey Peter Toews was born in Greenland Manitoba to Jacob G. and Anna Toews on August 9th, 1923. That same day his three year old sister passed away, succumbing to the dreaded disease of diphtheria. Harvey grew up in the home of his parents during his formative years and attended the North Greenland School through the eighth grade. During his late teen years he attended a series of revival meetings at the Greenland church and became burdened with his sins and felt the need of a savior. Later, his father passed away when Harvey was only 22 years old, placing on him additional responsibilities. During his time at Greenland, Manitoba, his youth and enthusiasm made his visits with his brothers and sisters and their families an experience to anticipate.
Sometime in the mid 50’s, Harvey purchased a new Ford Mercury and went out to the west coast to seek his fortunes, living in the area of Abbotsford, British Columbia. His older sister Mary with her husband Aaron Wiebe and family also lived there. In British Columbia, Harvey worked for a contractor who engaged in commercial construction. Harvey was one of the construction workers who built the notable Deas Island Tunnel that was opened for traffic on July of 1959. Later he was employed by Canada Post as a mailman.
In the early 60’s, Harvey relocated to Southern Ontario where his brother Edward lived with his family. He resided in Toronto and for a number of years worked on the assembly line and painting department of the Ford Motor Company where Harvey became noted for his skill in painting. Soon the Post Office called, and Harvey applied for a job at Canada Post. He worked there until his retirement.
His nieces and nephews of the Ed Toews family have many warm memories of our interaction with Uncle Harvey during the last sixty years of his life while he resided in Ontario. He very seldom turned down the occasion to come for our Christmas gathering, or any other special event. Singing was one of his loves as he joined the family in song. He would keep us enthralled with lengthy recitations of poems and bible verses. His life in Toronto was very eventful and he shared many interesting experiences mostly good but some very difficult. Uncle Harvey had empathy for the lonely and down trodden. Homeless men on the street were at times offered a meal and there were elderly people that he had a close relationship with. It wasn’t unusual that one of his many friends would come along with him when he visited us. He many times referred to the St. Marys congregation as “his church”.
Uncle Harvey was self sufficient for most of his life and though he reached out to others, he would seldom expect assistance. The time came when he needed to relinquish his independence and rely on his nephews to help with life’s needs. With their assistance in June of 2014, Uncle Harvey moved into the Chartwell Retirement Home at Kingsville Ontario where he would be closer to his nephew. Here he resided for the remainder of his life. Initially he found this very difficult but we rejoiced when the time came that he could submit to the loving care that he received from his dedicated care givers. During the first four years at Chartwell Uncle Harvey’s great niece, Shana was his primary care giver and they established a close bond. Those that cared for Uncle Harvey were impressed and inspired by his prayers at meal time, spiritual comments and advice, and humorous anecdotes that were dropped unexpectedly. Uncle Harvey, in his later years desired to make his salvation sure. Those of his family can testify that he seemed to become soft hearted as he submitted to his trying circumstances. His mind and health began to fail during the last years of his life and communication became a challenge. However, it was obvious that he loved his caregivers and they loved him in return. Uncle Harvey would always have a warm smile of recognition when his family came to visit him. On Saturday, March 18, of this year we received notice that Uncle Harvey’s departure from this life was eminent. We, as his nephews in Ontario expected that we would have time to come to his bedside and hold his hand as he passed into the other world, but his Savior called and he couldn’t wait. Around 11 PM of that same evening Uncle Harvey quietly and peacefully passed over the river. Today we feel that he is in the arms of Jesus.
Harvey P Toews is survived by many loved and loving nieces and nephews;Peter Esau, Helen Esau McLennan, Elma Riemer Giesbrecht, Susan Riemer Barkman, Donald Riemer, Kenneth Wiebe, Russell Wiebe, Henry Wiebe, Hugh Wiebe, Daniel Wiebe, Neil Loewen, Joan Penner Weeks, Edith Penner Nagle, Paul Toews, Robert Toews, Elvera Toews Penner, Fred Toews, Chester Toews, Russell Toews, Rosemarie Toews Loewen, Deanna Toews Treadway , Gloria Toews Foth , Delores Toews Dunn, Allan Riemer, Carol Riemer Arendt, David Riemer, Robert Riemer, Wilmer Isaac, Corinne Isaac, Lois Isaac Thiessen, Leon Isaac, Richard Isaac, Juanita Isaac, Stuart Isaac.
Family and friends will gather at Kendrick Funeral Home (91 Division St. S., Kingsville, ON) on Thursday, March 23, 2023, for visitation from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 23 at 2 p.m. at Kendrick Funeral Home Chapel. Officiating Minister will be Robert Toews. A burial will be held at a later date at Kirkden Woodham Union Cemetery in St. Mary’s, Ontario.