TOOMSEN, Tillie 1895-1953

TOOMSEN, VENENGA, STOEHR

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 3/19/2017 at 21:52:31

Mrs. C. Toomsen Died Sunday

Mrs. Charles Toomsen died Sunday afternoon at her home in Holland following an illness of several months from cancer.

Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at one o'clock at the home in Holland and later at the Holland Christian Reformed church. Rev. Henry Zwaanstra, pastor of the Christian Reformed church at Lincoln Center, will have charge of the services. Burial will be in the family lot in the Holland cemetery.

Was Born in Pleasant Valley Township
Mrs. Toomsen was born on a farm in Pleasant Valley township, Grundy county, October 14, 1895, and she grew up in Pleasant Valley, Shiloh and Colfax townships. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. U. Venenga. Her mother was Mrs. Lena Stoehr.

On May 9, 1911, she was married to Charles Toomsen in Franklin county. The couple and their family resided in Franklin county 30 years, after which the father and mother retired and moved to Holland in 1941 which remained their home up to the time of their death. Mr. Toomsen died in December 1946. Mrs. Toomsen was a member and a regular attendant of the Christian Reformed church in Holland.

Surviving are two sons, Wilbert, Dumont, and Duane, who is in the U.S. Navy, now stationed at China Lake, California. There are three daughters, Margaret, Mrs. George Werkman, Holland; Luetta, Mrs. Ed Kline, Iowa Falls, and Bernice, who is at home. There are 15 grandchildren. Other members of her family are one sister, Mrs. C. B. Sonnenberg; four brothers, William and Bert from Hampton, John, Holland, and Ben, Grundy Center.

Preceding her in death in addition to her husband were her parents; one son, John, and one sister, Mrs. Lena Sonnenberg.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 30 April 1953, pg 11

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Obituary of Mrs. Tillie Toomsen

Mrs. Tillie Toomsen passed away Sunday afternoon, April 26, 1953, after a lingering illness. The deceased had suffered for some time with the dreaded disease of cancer, which began to show itself some three years ago. She departed very quietly to be with her Lord Sunday afternoon at about 3 o'clock. We despaired for her life for some time, yet she was always very pleasant and optimistic. Realizing her condition, she was anxious to depart, but was humbly submissive to the will of the Lord. With the apostle Paul of old, she, too, was aware that to depart was for her far better than to be here in the flesh. Her faith in her Lord and Savior remained constant to the end. This is a comfort to those that are left behind to mourn her loss.

Mrs. Toomsen was born October 14, 1895, in Shiloh township, Grundy county, and was the daughter of Buss U. Venenga. She was happily married to Charles Toomsen May 9, 1911. The couple lived on a farm in Franklin county until their retirement to Holland in 1941. Her husband died here in 1946. Mrs. Toomsen lived in Hampton from 1948 to 1950, returning to Holland in the latter year. Since then she had lived in her own home in Holland.

The deceased was confirmed in the Grand Center Lutheran church at the age of about 15. She joined the Holland Christian Reformed church when the family moved to Holland in 1941, and has been a faithful member ever since. While in Hampton she had her membership with the Iowa Falls Christian Reformed church, but upon her return she had her membership transferred to this church.

Mrs. Toomsen was active in the affairs of the church. She loved to do things for others and manifested herself as a sincere Christian. She was a wonderful mother for her children and had a very pleasant disposition which made her many friends.

Besides her many friends and neighbors she leaves to mourn her loss two sons, Wilbert, Dumont; Duane, at home, but now in the service; three daughters, Mrs. George Werkman, Holland; Mrs. Edward Kline, Iowa Falls; Bernice, at home; 15 grandchildren; four brothers, Will and Bert Venenga, Hampton; John, Holland; Ben, Grundy Center; one sister, Mrs. C. B. Sonnenberg, Holland. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, John, and a sister, Mrs. Lena Sonnenberg.

The departed has fought a good fight. She has finished her course and kept the faith. Henceforth, we believe, there is laid up for her a crown of righteousness, which is promised to those who are faithful. This is indeed our comfort.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 7 May 1953, pg 9