Obituary of Menno Toews

It is with great sadness we announce the sudden passing of our dad Menno Toews at his home in Chetwynd, BC on March 4, 2008 with his dog Tina by his side. Menno was born in Stienbach, Manitoba on August 24, 1943. Shortly after that, his parents move the family to British Columbia. They first settled in Rosedale and eventually the Abbotsford area where Menno's father started a family business that is still owned and operated by the Toews family today. In 1963, Menno and Vera were married and completed their family having three children. He worked in a lumber mill & built houses before he joined the family business, where he began the trade of sewing machine mechanics. In 1980 Menno moved his family North. They lived 30 miles west of Chetwynd in a remote guiding territory; he started a career as a hunting guide & outfitter. After moving closer to town Menno worked in the reforestation industry, managing the cold storage and tree distribution. He was a business man and became an engineer in his own right - building bridges for the Forestry. Menno was a marksman, hunter, and fisherman. He loved to camp, cook (sometimes competitively with his son Myrin) and he always had a joke or funny story to tell. Even during Menno's few years of retirement he continued sewing machine repair, management of reforestation, along with helping his children with their home projects. August '07 Menno went on an Alaskan Cruise with his fiancée Diane; during this trip his adventures included a Zip-line ride and glacier walk. This summer he wanted to go salmon fishing with his family and do a road-trip back to Alaska for more fishing. Menno had a profound reverence for his family, always speaking a word of praise or admiration. He instilled his honesty, sense of fairness, and love of adventure and life in his children and grandchildren. He always had time for anyone in need; all who knew him will miss his spontaneous nature and incalculable knowledge. "Everyman Dies-Not Everyman Lives" - Menno knew how to live and his legacy will forever live in the hearts of his family and friends. Menno is survived by: Daughter Oralynne-Joel their children Tyler, Brooks, Rebecca. Son Myrin-Charmaine their children, Shawn, Leah (Mitch, Hailey, Payton), Lyndon, Jaycee. Daughter Michelle-Jason their children Broden, Raegan, the mother of Menno's three children Vera. His fiancée, Diane and her daughters, Vicki (Terry, Marshall, Bailey, Zakk), Linda-May (Bryce, Brycen). His 5 siblings Leo, Jeannie, Edna, Joanna, Rachel and their families. He is predeceased by his parents Peter and Katherine Toews. Eulogy Presented by: Life-long friend, Wayne Grant A funeral service was held on Saturday, March 8th, 2008 at 2:00 pm from the Chetwynd Baptist Church. Pastor Bill Evans officiated. Interment was held in the Tuscola Mountain Cemetery. Very Respectfully, Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium