TOEWS
Ilse (nee: Unruh)
Ilse Toews of Calgary passed away in Calgary on Sunday, April 1, 2007 at age 87. Ilse was born February 12, 1920 in the Kuban region of southern Russia. She came to Canada in 1924 with parents David and Olga Unruh and settled in Lucky Lake, SK. After high school Ilse attended teachers college in Saskatoon, then returned to Lucky Lake to teach in a one room rural school house for 2 years. She moved to Vancouver (1941) and married Henry Toews (1943). Ilse and Henry moved to Big Valley, AB (1946) and Shaunessy, AB (1948) where they taught school together. Henry’s work as a school teacher and administrator took them to Nobleford, AB (1952), Grande Prairie, AB (1959), Edmonton (1967) and Calgary (1974). Ilse and Henry retired to Comox, B.C. in 1980 before returning to Calgary in 2002. Over all those moves Ilse and Henry were blessed with making many great friends. Like many women of her generation, Ilse possessed admirable qualities of love, strength, sacrifice and self-reliance. She was multi-talented, multi-dimensional, and a role model for all in our family. Ilse loved family, friends and community. She was an active volunteer (cubs, guides, newcomers, church work, etc.). She loved entertaining, bridge, square and round dancing, china painting, travel and was always up for a challenge. Ilse will be lovingly remembered by her sons, David (Ling) Toews, Dr. Bill Toews, Ken (Suzette) Toews, chosen daughter Donna Toews, daughter-in-law Dr. Jill Toews, grandchildren Michael (Meghan), Robert, Katie, Samara, John, McKayla, Ryan, and Mitch, along with numerous nephews and nieces. Ilse was predeceased by her beloved husband Dr. Henry Toews in September 2005. Ilse is the proud sister to brothers Erwin (Bertha, Jean), Ernest (Sylvia), Warner (Anita), Herbert (Erica), Victor (Cathy, Kay), Robert (Janice) Unruh and to sisters Margaret (Don) Brand, Irma (Fred) Moynhan, and Melita (Ernie) Clifford.
We wish to give special thanks to her friends and neighbors of Comox who made mom’s golden years truly the “best of time”.
A Funeral Service will be held at Highland Mennonite Brethren Church, 4018 Centre B Street N.W., Calgary on Friday, April 13, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. with interment to follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made directly to MCC Alberta, #210, 2946 - 32 Street N.E., Calgary, AB T1Y 6J7.