Obituary of Florence May Toevs Bartsch
May 14, 1923 - April 1, 2005
Florence May Toevs Bartsch, 81, went to meet her Lord on April 1, 2005 in her residence at Schowalter Villa in Hesston, Kansas.  Her memorial service, conducted by Pastor Don Myer, was held at Newton Bible Church on April 4, 2005.  Burial was at Greenwood Cemetery in Newton.
Florence May Toevs Bartsch was born on May 14, 1923, in Aberdeen, Idaho, the third daughter of Herman J. Toevs and Suzanne (Susie) Neuman Toevs.  Life was not easy for Florence.  She never knew her father, for he died the following year on April 12, 1924, when she was just eleven months old.  As she grew up during the Depression years, Florence learned to work hard.  She and her sisters, Elda and Dorothy spent many back-breaking hours hunched over burlap bags picking potatoes.
A very serious-minded girl, Florence had a rich spiritual heritage – her grandfather was a pastor.  One night when she was about eleven years old she made a commitment to trust in Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord.  Her life has always been guided by her commitment to follow Jesus and to serve Him.
By the early 1940's Elda had married a Newton, Kansas farmer, and Dorothy was attending nurse’s training there.  Susie and her daughter Florence joined them.  Florence and her sisters and mother attended First Mennonite Church in Newton, and it was there that she first met John Bartsch.  Since they both worked with the young people, John frequently called committee meetings so he could spend time with Florence.  His persistence paid off and they were married on October 15, 1943, seven months after John had begun his military service during World War II.  To this union were born six children:  John Theodore, Jr., James Timothy, Carol Ann, Gregory Dean, Gary Douglas, and Marilyn Sue.
After the war years, the couple made their home in Newton, where John worked as an accountant at Newton Finance and Investment Company, and Florence invested her time and energy into rearing their six children.  A consummate homemaker, Florence wielded a profound spiritual impact on her children, playing a significant role in leading each one to follow Jesus Christ even as she did all her life.  Not content to influence only her own children to follow God, she frequently served as a spiritual counselor and mentor to younger women and girls with whom God provided contact.
Having spent their early years in Newton, the family subsequently moved to Hutchinson, Kansas, to Monrovia, California, and to Lincoln, Nebraska.  After John’s retirement from Back to the Bible Broadcast in Lincoln, John and Florence moved to Hickory Homes in Hesston, Kansas.  The three sisters were back together again!
About a year after John’s death Florence moved to Schowalter Villa in 2001, where she has remained ever since.  Continuing to be alert to the spiritual needs of others, she persisted in talking to different residents and staff workers about their relationship with Jesus Christ.  Her whole life has been devoted to prayer, to diligent study of God’s Word, and to looking after the spiritual welfare of others.
Florence was preceded in death by her father Herman, her mother Susie, her step-father, Herman Schmidt, and her husband, John.  She is survived by her son John, Jr. and his wife Sharon of Salem, Oregon; James and his wife Esther of Omaha, NE; Carol and her husband Vernon Steiner of Lincoln, Nebraska; Gregory and his wife Joy of Lincoln, Nebraska; Gary of Newton, Kansas; and Marilyn and her husband Elvin Hollon of Liberty, Missouri.  She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.  Though she will be sorely missed by family and friends, they look forward one day to a grand reunion with her in New Jerusalem.
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This page updated on September 28, 2022