William "Bill" R. Toews

William R. “Bill” Toews, 79, of McPherson, KS, passed away on Thursday, June 15, 2023.  Bill was born to Jacob and Helen (Rosenfeld) Toews in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada on June 21, 1943. He was the oldest of two sons.  He grew up on a poultry farm in Steinbach and worked on the family farm while in school. Bill was baptized on June 2, 1963 and joined the Steinbach Mennonite Church.

He attended elementary and high school in Steinbach. After high school, he worked with the Manitoba Highways Department for a number of years. He then went to Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas and graduated there in 1972 with a B.A., later graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 1974 with a MSW. Bill worked in Kansas as a social worker in the communities of Newton, Chanute, Independence and McPherson for 35 years.  Bill was a member of a number of professional organizations through employment as a social worker in Kansas.

On Feb.5, 1972, Bill married Dayle Funk from Hillsboro, Kansas. They have two sons, Eric and David, and it was discovered they had an intellectual disability due to Fragile X Syndrome.  Bill, Dayle, Eric, and David moved to McPherson, Kansas in 1984 where they joined the First Mennonite Church, and have been active members there. Bill has been the Church Treasurer, Deacon, a member of the Kansas Mennonite Men's Chorus, and has volunteered at the MCC sale, the ReUselt Center, and Special Olympics activities.    

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Helen Toews.

Surviving family members include: his wife, Dayle; his sons, Eric William Toews and David Paul Toews, a brother, Arnold Toews and wife, Betty-Lou; nephews, Jarod, Michael, and Adam; a niece, Katelen; and many other relatives and friends.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, Monday, June 19, 2023, at Stockham Family Funeral Home.  The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, June 20, at the First Mennonite Church.  Burial will follow at McPherson Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given to Disability Supports of the Great Plains, McPherson or MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.