Toenjes, Wendell 1925 - 2007

TOENJES, ONKEN, NIELSEN

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/11/2010 at 08:49:17

Wendell Toenjes

Date of Death
Monday, May 21, 2007

Le Mars, Iowa

Wendell Toenjes, 81, of Le Mars, Iowa passed away Monday, May 21, 2007 at the Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars, Iowa.

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 24, 2007 at Grace Lutheran Church in Le Mars, Iowa with Reverend Dave Daumer of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Reading Township, rural Ireton, Iowa officiating. Interment services will be 9:00 a.m. Thursday, May 24, 2007 at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, rural Ireton. Visitations with the family present will be after 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at the Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars, Iowa followed by a 7:30 p.m. Prayer Service at the funeral home. Memorials can be directed to Hospice of Siouxland, St. John’s Cemetery Fund, or Grace Lutheran Church Building Fund.

Pallbearers will be Ted Toenjes, Stanley Toenjes, Hal Toenjes, Jeff Sylvester, Keith Wendte, and Allen Denner.

Wendell John Toenjes was born on the family farm in Buncombe Township, Sioux County, Iowa on June 18, 1925, the son of John C. and Maria (Onken) Toenjes. He was raised on a farm Southwest of Maurice, Iowa. He was baptized in the Christian faith on July 26, 1925 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Reading Township, Ireton. Wendell confirmed his Faith in the Triune God on July 16, 1939 at St. John’s. He attended country school at Reading Township #7 and graduated from Maurice High School in 1942. Wendell was united in marriage to Lillian Nielsen on August 27, 1948 at St. John’s Lutheran. This union was blessed with 6 children: Carol, Ted, Sharon, Stanley, Jan, and Alan.

After Lillian and Wendell were married, his father retired from farming and he assumed management of the family farm. Wendell was also involved with selling seed corn for several years. He willingly served his God in many capacities including president of the Sioux City zone Walther League in his teens. He served the Iowa West Lutheran Laymen’s League District Secretary from 1974 to 1978. At St. John’s he served in all elected offices through the years and had also taught youth and later adult bible classes and directed the choir for many years.

His service to his community included 24 years on the Sioux County A.S.C.S. with the last 10 years as chairman, past President of the Sioux County Farm Bureau from 1980 to 1984, secretary and treasurer of the Reading Township School Board upon its merger with the Maurice School District and later served on the Maurice-Orange City School Board. He also served a term on the Sioux County Extension Council and the Sioux County Fair Board. Lillian passed away in December of 1994. Wendell moved to Le Mars in 1998. While living in Le Mars, Wendell became active with the Lion’s Club and worshiped at Grace Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his 6 children: Carol Sylvester and her husband Jeff of Columbus, Ohio, Ted Toenjes and his wife Connie of Urbandale, Iowa, Sharon Wendte and her husband Keith of Willowbrook, Illinois, Stanley Toenjes and his wife Joyce of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Jan Denner and her husband Allen of Ames, Iowa, and Rev. Alan “Hal” Toenjes and his wife Joyce of Green Bay, Wisconsin; 9 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren; and several friends throughout Plymouth and Sioux Counties.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John C. and Maria (Onken) Toenjes; a brother, Harold and his wife Lavon Toenjes; and 2 sisters, Thelma Toenjes and Elvira Kading and her husband Paul; and a great grandson, Grant Moore.

Source: Carlsen Funeral Home
Le Mars, Iowa