Novalis Nick Toews

WHITEWATER - Nicolei Novalis "Nick" Toews, 90, was born to Marie (Stoesz) and Nicolei Toews on January 11, 1925, at Bethel Hospital in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. He lived on a farm north of Mountain Lake until his father became ill, at which time the family left the farm to live in Mountain Lake. Nick passed away peacefully Wednesday (June 10, 2015) at Kansas Christian Home, Newton.

For many years, he was known as Novalis, N.N., or just Nick. He attended public school in Mountain Lake, except for his third and fourth grades - attending the German school in the area. Living across the street from his school, he never could skip, as his mother would watch from the kitchen window to make sure he arrived safely.  Nick graduated from Mountain Lake High School in 1943.

World War II delayed further schooling, having registered and served as a conscientious objector until 1946. Nick worked in CPS camps and, when called, went with MCC on two voyages to Europe - one carrying dairy heifers to Bremen, Germany, and one carrying workhorses to Danzig, Poland. He said that the voyages were fun, except that the cattle insisted on producing copious amounts of manure and the horses tended to get seasick.

Nick attended Bethel College, North Newton, graduating in 1950, with a major in music education and a minor in science. He began his teaching career at Bible Academy in Hutchinson. He and his wife, Pauline, were married on July 25, 1950. After teaching for three years, they moved to a farm southeast of Whitewater where they raised their family. Stewart had joined the couple in 1951, Marna in 1954, Cynthia in 1956, and Jeff in 1959. Nick farmed and raised cattle and hogs, but his loves on the farm were the dairy cows that he and the girls raised and milked.

In 1967, he was asked to return to teaching, but not in music or in science. Nick taught math at the Junior High School in Potwin for 12 years. He transferred to the Special Education Cooperative in Butler County, beginning the Gifted program in six of the Butler County Schools. During his teaching career, Nick was awarded a Master Teacher Award from the special education department. He also studied at, and received his masters degree in education with an emphasis on gifted education, from Emporia State University in 1980. Nick retired in 1990.

Nick and Pauline spent many summers traveling to all 50 states and overseas. Their idea of "roughing it" was the travel trailer that they pulled with various pickup trucks. Nick always appreciated classical music, spending time singing and directing choirs. One of his hobbies was stamp collecting, spending the past few years organizing his stamp collection and his stamp books. He loved to garden, both flowers and vegetables. However, his love was in tilling the soil and getting the seeds In the ground. Hoeing weeds and picking the produce were just chores to get finished at the end. Nick was active in the Farm Bureau organization, serving as President in Butler County for a time. He received a Farm Bureau award for his efforts on the farm. He was also active in the Remington Historical Society. Often, when he would go to the high school to check on some fact or other, he would stop in and visit Mama's classroom.

Nick is survived by his wife of 64 years, Pauline, daughters Marna (Steve) Schowalter, Cynthia Rhodes (Brian Martin), and son Jeff (Theresa) Toews, six grandchildren - Jacob (Jami) Rhodes, Sheersty (Andrew) Stanton, Ashley Toews, Kristen (Branden) Faul, Emily (Drew) Merritt, and Curtis Toews, and five great- grandchildren - James Rhodes, Isabelle Stanton, Natalie Toews, and Jaxon and Karsyn Faul. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Willard Milton, and one son, Stewart Keith.

Vistation with family will be held from 2:00-4:00 p.m., Sunday, at Lamb Funeral Home, Whitewater.  A family commital service will be held Monday, at Emmaus Cemetery, Whitewater.  A Memorial Serivce will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 15, 2015, at Grace Hill Mennonite Church, Whitewater.  Memorial Funds have been established for Central Kansas Community Foundation - Attn:  Nick Toews Scholarship (For a Remington High School Seniors) or for the Kansas Christian Home, in care of Lamb Funeral Home, 120 S Main, Whitewater, KS, 67154.  Condolence may be left at www.zeinerfuneralhomes.