Anton TOFT

TOFT, MOTZKUS, SONTHEIMER, DUNAVANT, KITTLE, WALKER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/25/2009 at 01:04:50

St Joseph News Press, Missouri
September 2009

Anton “Tony” Toft, 93, St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, September 26, 2009, at his home. Mr. Toft was born September 5, 1916, in Dows, Iowa. He moved to Scott County, Iowa in 1924. During World War II, he was a navigator in the US Army Air Corps, serving 2½ years in The European Theatre. His plane was shot down on Christmas, 1944, after flying supplies to the troops in Bastogne, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge. Captain Toft received numerous battle stars and the Air Medal with three stars and the Bronze Star with Oak Leaves Cluster. A graduate of Augustana College, he received his Master’s degree at the University of Iowa. He did additional graduate work at the Universities of Kansas, Chicago, Wisconsin and Illinois. He served as a mathematics teacher and administrator in West Liberty, Iowa and Franklin Park, Ill. Mr. Toft was a member and past treasurer of First Lutheran Church. He was also a member of Zeredatha Lodge No. 189, A.F. & A.M.; a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason member of Moila Shrine Temple and Legion of Honor; past member of Downtown Optimist Club where he was awarded “Optimist of the Year” and a member of the High Twelve Club #49. A long-time member of the National Council of Mathematics Teachers, he also belonged to The Illinois Retired Teachers Association. He married Halcyone Motzkus in 1946 in Pleasant Valley, Iowa. She died in 1976, shortly after his retirement. Mr. Toft married Vivian Sontheimer in St. Joseph in 1978 and has resided here since. She died in 2005. Survivors include sons, Stuart of Champaign, Ill., and twins, Tom of Villa Park, Ill., and Fred of St. Joseph; three grandchildren and one step granddaughter; sister-in-law, Freda Dunavant of St. Joseph. His St. Joseph “family” included two nieces, Carol Walker, Kansas City, Mo., and Betty Kittle of Issaquah, Wash.; five great-nieces and great-nephews and eight great-great-nieces and nephews. Mr. Toft has been cremated. Memorial service: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Heaton-Bowman-Smith & Sidenfaden Chapel. A private inurnment will be held at Scandinavian Cemetery, Rockford, Ill., at a later date. The family will receive friends at the Chapel one hour prior to the Service. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Hands of Hope Hospice in St. Joseph.