Toenjes, John C. 1877-1962 & Mary Onken Family

TOENJES, ONKEN, ZIMMERMAN, RICKLEFS

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 10/3/2023 at 14:39:12

Toenjes, John C. 1877-1962 & Mary Onken Family

This story was taken from page 474 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added by Wilma J.Vande Berg.

Mr. John C. Toenjes was born near Monticello, Ia. in Jones Co. June 24, 1877. John drove from Jones Co. to Sioux Co. by horse and buggy on two separate occasions. He came to Sioux Co., Reading Twp. in 1903 to find farm employment, and made his home with his aunt, Mrs. H.L. Vander Hamm. He met Mary Onken, a native of Sioux Co., Reading Twp. and they were married Jan. 11, 1906. They lived on their farm in Sioux Co., Reading Twp., Sec. 36.

Their children:
Harold C. Toenjes, Elvira M. (Toenjes) Kading, Thelma R. Toenjes, Wendell J. Toenjes. A son was stillborn in 1913.

Members of St. John’s Lutheran Church, rural Ireton, Ia., Mr. J.C. Toenjes held office of elder in the church for many years. He was rural school director, twp. trustee for many years, and was on the elevator board in Struble, Ia.

Mrs. Mary Toenjes was church organist in her youth, and a member of St. John’s Lutheran Ladies Aid, rural Ireton.

Mr. and Mrs. Toenjes encountered difficult years during the Depression of the 1930’s. They retired to Ireton in 1948. Mr. Toenjes died Sept. 2, 1962. Mrs. Toenjes died Oct. 11, 1971.

RESEARCH NOTES: Added by Wilma J. Vande Berg From a report on ancestry.com public member trees submitted by other family members.

Johann Christopher Toenjes was born 25 Jun 1877 Jones County IA died 22 Sep 1962 Ireton IA. His parents were Herman August Toenjes 1856-1938 and Anna Margaret Zimmerman 1859-1941. He married Mary T. Onken 11 Jan 1906 Sioux county IA.

Mary T. Onken was born 27 Jan 1885 Ireton IA and died 11 Oct 1971 Hawarden IA She was the daughter of Hajo Eden Onken 1850-1915 and Margaret Ricklefs 1881-1936. They were the parents of five children.

CHILDREN: Most of their obits can be found on this site www.iagenweb.org/sioux

1. Harold C. Toenjes was born June 4, 1907 to John and Mary Toenjes of Reading Twp. He married Dorothy Lavon Wills, daughter of Clyde and Ida (Jones) Wills, on Aug. 28, 1936. They are the parents of two children, Royce Toenjes and Donna E. (Mrs. Curtis Van Ness). They farmed in Reading Twp. until Sept. of 1979 when they retired to their home on East St. in Ireton. Before her marriage, Lavon taught in the rural schools in Washington Twp.
See his obituary on this site.

2. Elvira M. Toenjes was born Fb 1, 1911 near Maurice IA. Taught school before marriage to Paul Kading aug 16, 1933. they farmed southeast of Ireton and moved to Ireton in 1966. They had two daughters Marlene Mrs. Vernon Eilts and Paulie Juller of Sibley. See her complete obituary on this site.

3. Stillborn Son Tonejes born 1913

4. Thelma Rosina Toenjes was born Sept. 1, 1917 on a farm SE of Ireton, Ia. In 1943 she began working at the Lutheran Hospital in Sioux City (now St. Luke’s). In 1961 she returned to Ireton to care for her parents until their deaths, when she returned to work in the hospitals in Akron and Sioux City. She returned to Ireton after her retirement in 1978, where she resided in one of the earliest wooden houses built in Ireton and originally the home of the operator of the steam roller mill along the railroad line. See her obituary on this site.

5 . Wendell J. Toenjes was born on the famly farm in Bumcombe Twp Sioux County IA jun 18, 1925. He was married to Lillian Nielsen Aug 27, 1948 at St. John’s Lutheran Church Ireton. He died 21 may 2007 Le Mars IA. They had six children: Carol Mrs. Jeff Sylvester of Columbus OH , Ted Toenjes and wife Connie of Urbandale IA, Sharon Mrs. Keith Wendte of Willowbrook IL, Stanley Toenjes and wife Joyce of Colorado Spring CO, Jan Toenjes Mrs. Allen Denner of Ames IA and Rev. Alan Toenjes and wife Joyce of Green Bay WI. Source – Find A Grave listing with obituary.

OBITUARY OF JOHN TOENJES 1877-1962
Funeral services for John C. Toenjes,85, prominent retired farmer and cattle feeder who died at his home in Ireton Friday following a lingering illness, were held at 2 o'clock Monday at St. John's Lutheran church in Reading township, Rev. Paul Friedrich officiated with burial in the church cemetery.
Mr. Toenjes was born June 24, 1877, at Monticello, Iowa and had been a resident of the Ireton area since 1900. He married Miss Mary Onken at Ireton on June 11, 1906. Mr. Toenjes retired from his extensive feeding operations and moved into Ireton 15 years ago.
Survivors include the widow, two sons Harold of Ireton and Wendell of Struble; two daughters, Mrs. Elvira Kading of Ireton, and Thelma, at home; six sisters, Mrs. Anna Heiken, Mrs. Gusta Folkers and Mrs. Elizabeth Heeren, all of Anamosa, Iowa, Miss Julia Toenjes and Mrs. Laura Seibels both of Amber, Iowa, and Mrs. Clara Melster of Denver, Nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Source: Hawarden Independent(9-27-1962)

OBITUARY OF MARY TOENJES 1885-1971
Mrs. Mary Toenjes, 86, passed away Monday, Oct. 11, 1971 at the Hawarden Hospital following a months hospitalization.
Former Mary Onken was born Jan. 27, 1885 near Ireton. Baptized April 19, 1885 and confirmed March 26, 1899, by Pastor Reidel. Married John C. Toenjes Jan. 11, 1906 at Ireton, Iowa by Pastor C. D. Nuoffer.
Farmed southeast of Ireton. Moved to Ireton 1949. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church rural Ireton and a member of St. Johns Ladies Guild until she transferred her membership to St. Paul’s, Ireton in 1966.
Survivors are two sons, Harold of Ireton and Wendell of LeMars, two daughters, Mrs. Paul (Elvira) Kading and Thelma of Ireton, ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, two brothers, Reiner Onken and Andy Onken of Ireton, and three sisters, Mrs. Emelie Schultz, Mrs. Martha Schmidt, both of LeMars and Mrs. Laura Lehrman of Maurice.
Preceded in death by her husband and infant son, her parents, Hajo and Margaret Onken, 2 brothers and 3 sisters.
Funeral services were 1:30 P.M., Wednesday October 13, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Rev. A. W. Anacker officiating. Burial St. John's Cemetery rural Ireton.
Source: Hawarden Independent, October 14, 1971
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The Sioux Center News, Sioux Center, Sioux, Iowa, USA Page 5 Thursday, October 14, 1971
MRS. JOHN TOENJES
Funeral services were held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, rural Ireton Wednesday, October 13, for Mrs. John Toenjes, 86, of Ireton, who died at the Hawarden Hospital October 11. Services were conducted by the Rev A. W. Anacker and burial was made in St. John cemetery.
Mrs. Toenjes, the former Mary Onken, was born at Ireton January 27, 1885. She was married to John Toenjes at Ireton January 11, 1906, and resided on a farm in the Ireton area until moving into Ireton in 1949. Mr. Toenjes died in 1962.
Survivors include two sons, Harold of Ireton and Wendell of Le Mars, two daughters, Mrs. Paul (Elvira) Kading and Thelma Toenjes, both of Ireton; two brothers, Reiner and Andy, both of Ireton, three sisters, Mrs. Emelie Schulz and Mrs. Martha Schmidt, both of Le Mars, Mrs. Laura Lehrman of Maurice; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

This picture accompanied the story of John Toenjes in the Ireton Centennial book 1882-1982.

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