Henry Toews

Obituary

It is with a heart mixed with celebration and sadness as we the family announced our dad, Henry Toews passing on March 27, 2021 after a 13-year journey with a life-altering stroke. Henry was 75.

He is now home.

Dad was born in 1945 to Henry and Marie Toews in the Barkfield Manitoba area.

Our dad had a full childhood. He loved singing with his siblings in his dad’s 1950s car as the whole crew of brothers and sisters packed in the car to head to choir practice. Dad’s bass voice was a beautiful compliment he shared in many ways in years to come. His much-played Johnny Cash 8 track was played many a time in dad’s 66 Mercury cruising down the road.

Dad worked at the Depappe dairy farm from a young age and getting permission to take apart the motor from his dad’s 1950s car in his teenage years led to an already deep passion inside of him to pursue many years of garage and mechanical work starting with the opening of Space-Age Tire in Steinbach in 1971 along with his partner John Reimer.

Years later, our dad pursued College training in automotive at Red River. A great accomplishment since great 8 was his final year at the country Woolwich school.

This led to a natural progression of opening a Minute Muffler years later, working along side his son Jason in this new venture. It was one of dad’s highlights in his life.

He loved his children dearly.

His early years were also spent with his dad, his best friend as he often said, hauling milk together from Meadowlands Cheese Factory to waiting customers in the Grunthal and surrounding area.

A gravel business ensued after the milk hauling years and our Dad loved every minute of time spent with his dad. Dad then bought the business in 1978 from his dad and continued for many years hauling gravel and loader work under the business name of Toews Trucking in Grunthal, MB and surrounding area.

Trips with his teenage daughters on some long summer days were enjoyed incredibly by dad and daughters alike, always hoping to stop at Dairy capital for a Coke and fries.

Dad enjoyed many relationships he encountered over the years in his business. He loved people. And of course, Dairy Capitol coffee time.

Dad met the love of his life back in the Woolwich school days. Dad married his sweetheart Erna from Grunthal on September 20th, 1964, on a balmy September Day.

Dad and mom went on to have three children Arlene Joy, Belva June, and Jason Lee.

Dad enjoyed his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren immensely as the family grew over the years. Dad always wanted to know the newest happenings in their lives. He was always interested and encouraging.

Dad had a great love for music and quartet music was one of his loves, which led to a motorhome trip down to a Nashville Quartet Convention with mom by his side. Many many trips were taken over the years, including the much-loved family motorhome trips across the country.

The last thirteen years were a huge change in our Dad’s life as the stroke changed his life’s journey just before retiring at the age of 62. During these years, dad, along with the family had caregivers that not only took care of his physical needs but invested in his whole being which included many conversations about his family, his family trips and his passions he had had in his life. And oh, the stories. He was a storyteller. We are thankful for those who invested and cared for him with such care.

Through all of his 13-year struggle, dad had wishes and wants and prayed for change, but we never heard him complain. He was an encourager even during these last 13 years.

Dad’s relationship with his God was a solid one. Though few words were spoken, we knew.

Dad was an inspiring, encouraging, family loving dad.

Dad will be incredibly missed by many, including his brothers and sisters, brother-in-law’s and sister-in-law’s, and many nieces and nephews and friends.

Dad is survived by two daughters Arlene (Bruce) Derksen, Belva (Terry Alty) Rode, and one son Jason (Erica) Toews and their families.

Dad was predeceased by his sweetheart, wife Erna in 2019.

His parents Henry and Mary Toews, brother-in-law Peter Harder, niece Katherine Toews and nephew Cole Friesen.

A come & go viewing will be held on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

A private family funeral will be held on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.