Abe Toews

On Monday, Sep 29, Dad passed away at the Altona Hospital at the age of 92 years.

He was predeceased by his wife Tena and son Robert, his parents, 3 brothers and 1 sister. He is survived by his daughter Ruth and Laverne Siemens (Jeremy/Katelin, Jill/Kyle, Jay/Samantha); daughter Diane and Al Schmidt (Kristen, Michael/Brooke, Kate); son Gerald and Marilyn (Lindsay/Nick, Carly/Angus); daughter Mary Jane; and son Rick and Marj (Jeff, Ellen/Andrew, Joe/Kaya, Sam/Kate and Scott). There are 5 great grand children and one on the way.

Dad was born on May 11, 1933, in Altona, MB to Abram and Justina Toews. He grew up in the village of Neuhorst with 3 brothers and 3 sisters. He acquired a grade nine education and discovered early that he had mechanical abilities and was often employed by his father to fix things that grandpa could not fix. Dad was an engineer without a formal degree. He was a valued source of knowledge to his family and community. You could ask him almost anything and he would usually have some knowledge of it. He operated his service station, Toews Esso, for over 3 decades before selling it and working at Leisure Travel Vans in Gretna.

In 1956, he started dating the neighbor girl, Tena Guenther. The relationship was initiated by a postcard that Dad sent while working on the pipeline. Some of his fellow workers challenged each other to send a postcard to the first girl they thought of. After 2 years of long-distance dating, Dad returned to Neuhorst for Christmas break. When he told her that he needed to return to Ontario, she cried at the thought of being separated again. Dad replied, “I didn’t say I was going alone”. They were quickly married on Jan. 4, 1959. It was a cold, stormy day with only their parents present. Their marriage lasted 55 years until Mom passed. Even though he had lost his partner, he often said that he had so much to be thankful for. A few weeks after Mom died, Dad insisted on hosting Easter at his house. He continued to make the turkey and stuffing for many years after Mom’s passing.

In the spring of 1959 Dad was baptized upon confession of his faith in Christ and joined the Bergthaler Mennonite Church in Gretna where he was an active lifelong member and attended regularly right until the day before his passing. Dad showed much perseverance and faithfulness throughout his life. When Robert, our brother, was put into foster care at 3 years of age, Mom was devastated. Dad continued to work 6 days a week and kept the family together when Mom was suffering with depression. When Mom was battling cancer, he was always by her side. When palliative care became necessary, he sat at her bedside every day.

Dad loved to play guitar and sing. He was a long-time song leader in church, he sang in the Southern Manitoba Choral Society and regularly sang at funerals and care homes with the Gretna Quartet. It was a great loss when he accidentally cut the tips of his fingers in a table saw accident and couldn’t play guitar like he did before. He was very proud of the musical abilities of his kids and grandkids.

Dad always looked forward to their summer vacations at the lake. That was his refuge and a highlight for us kids. It was a lot of work to organize it, but Mom and Dad made it a priority. He loved working on old boats and motors. It was a bonus when we were able have extended family join us. When Dad was 66, he had a major heart attack that could have taken him at that time. With the fast actions of the Altona Hospital, he was revived and got to enjoy another 25 years of lake trips … right up until his last month.

As a family, we extend our deep appreciation to the staff at the Apartments at Gardens on Tenth. Dad made many special connections with them. The family knew that he was well taken care of. Living in the Apartments provided company he needed in his season of life. Dad and his friend Kenny would take many walks down the hall. He enjoyed his morning coffee times with Anne, Jake and his Gretna friends. He loved telling jokes and never missed an opportunity for humor. Even on his last day he was joking, in Low German, with health care professionals. We are so thankful that it was a brief stay in the hospital before he passed on. It was a life well-lived, and we are thankful for the man that he was.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Altona Bergthaler Mennonite Church. Interment will take place at the Edenburg Cemetery. Viewing will be at Wiebe Funeral Home Altona on Friday, October 3 from 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. and at the church prior to the service.

Donations in memory of Abe may be made to the Apartments at Gardens on Tenth.

The funeral service will be live streamed, click on the video link below.