Thomas Joseph Toenjes

Thomas Joseph Toenjes, 82, passed away on Monday evening around 8:30pm, October 20, 2025 at his home in rural St. Mary’s, KS after a 3-year battle with cancer. Having received the Last Sacraments the night before, he died very peacefully, surrounded by many of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren who were praying for him.

Tom was born on October 30, 1942, in Flint, MI. He was the youngest son and 6th child of Henry and Olga “Helen” (Planthold) Toenjes. A news article written about the birth stated that “Henry Toenjes is still excited about the additions to his family, even though the son born the other day was number 6. Henry came to work at Fischers accounting department wearing one blue sock and one green sock the day after his son arrived.” His big sister Maryann remembers lying under his bassinet cradle and rocking him to sleep with her feet.

As a toddler, he loved to "help" his mother type her letters on the typewriter and was "fun" to be around.

He spent a year at the Jesuit seminary near Grand Rapids, MI before attending the Catholic University of Detroit, MI. During his senior year at the university, he helped fix the giant clock in the clock tower. He was also a member of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (ROTC). He graduated from U of D in 1965 with a degree in electrical engineering, and worked for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as an inspector for around 10 years, often traveling out of state to inspect radio stations for a week at a time in his blue box truck packed with electrical gear. While on a business trip, he met his future wife, Teresa Brighoff, at a Catholic singles’ dance in Baltimore, MD, and 6 months later, on May 18, 1968, they received the sacrament of marriage at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Baltimore MD. They lived in Grosse Pointe, MI, Overland Park, KS and Leavenworth, KS, respectively, during the next 11 years. In 1980 they settled down in the St. Marys, KS area with their growing family of 7 children.

Tom bought 80 acres near St. Marys where he helped design and build his current house. He and Teresa not only raised their 12 children in this home, but also established a homestead, raising all of their own meat, fish, milk, eggs, and much of their vegetables, with the help of their offspring. Tom, a city boy, said he got his love for rural and farm life from visiting his sister Jane’s farm as a boy. He also said he moved to the country for his children's sakes, for which they are very grateful.

His children loved the smell of cigar or pipe tobacco in his wool jacket and how he often blew smoke rings. They will always remember him as kind, patient, stern and fun, and how he would often play board games with them on a Sunday afternoon, or outdoor games.

It was a sad day when he took his first and last horse ride in 1987 which ended up in a fall that crushed his vertebra. He was not physically quite the same after that.

Once, in 1991, he and 7 of his older children caravanned in two vehicles for several days of tent camping in the Rocky Mountains. Every year he enjoyed hiding his children’s Easter baskets outside in clever places. They would often help him with all kinds of repairs and would be sent to fetch this tool, or these types of nuts and bolts, etc., and learned many things that way.

He quit his job with the FCC in 1979 and became self-employed as a broadcast engineer until he was no longer able to, around 2 years ago. He still had to travel a lot, but he liked his new boss better. He fixed many radios and televisions as a side job, as well as anything else electrical. His workshop, first in the basement and then in the newly built garage, was an amazing sight to see. His children loved to just sit near him, watching him fix things, quietly, or having conversations. He nearly always had the shortwave radio turned on while working and smoking his cigar or pipe. Spending time in his workshop was one of the hardest things for him to give up.

He was very philosophical and loved having long, deep conversations about religion, theology, politics, and more. He was always reading a good book or two, and magazine or newspaper articles on religion or politics. Little Gregory once said, “Daddy’s a smart man!”

Ever since he was young, he had an amazing ability to fix most anything electrical or mechanical. When he was a boy, he said he would sometimes use this cleverness to play pranks on the neighbors or passers-by. He had his ham radio license for decades (W0TVI) and helped his wife and some of his children get theirs, as well. Soon after moving to their home in rural St. Marys, he had a 100-foot tower installed for his radio antennas. Being already on top of one of the tallest hills in the area, it was visible for miles around and provided excellent views for those brave enough to climb up.

His children and some grandchildren were blessed to be able to work for him and fix things with him. He and Teresa loved having people over to their house for evening meals and Sunday brunches. He was very generous with his funds to help those in need and gave his time, money and energy very lovingly to his wife and 12 children. He was strong in his Catholic Faith, was a longtime supporter of the American TFP, loved the traditional Latin Mass, and was admired by family and friends around the globe, inspiring all who knew him.

He and Teresa celebrated 51 years of marriage in May of 2019. His beloved Teresa passed away in September of that same year.

Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Teresa; his parents, Henry and Olga “Helen” Toenjes; and his siblings: Henry, Jane, Richard, Gerard, and baby Claire Marie.

Survivors include his 12 children: Matthew Toenjes of Topeka, KS; Kateri (Don) Pomeleo of St. Marys, KS; Henry (Hollie) Toenjes of St. Marys, KS; Rebecca (Gary) Penrod of Delia, KS; Joseph (Angeline) Toenjes of Paxico, KS; Mary Jane (Gerald) Robinson of Topeka, KS; Christopher (Andrea) Toenjes of Kunheim, France; Louis (Alisha) Toenjes of Erie, CO; Gerard (Celine) Toenjes of Bunbury, Western Australia; Joan (Israel) Armenta of Maple Hill, KS; Gregory Toenjes of St. Mary’s KS; Cecilia (Pedro) Zavala of Maple Hill, KS; 55 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren; his loving sister, Maryann Ghesquiere; and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Toenjes will lie in repose and family will receive friends on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 from 5:00pm until 7:00pm at Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., with the holy Rosary at 7:00pm.

Requiem Mass will be at 11am on Thursday, October 30, 2025 at St. John Vianney Chapel in Maple Hill, KS followed by internment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Emmett, KS. A luncheon will be provided by the Knights of Columbus at the George J. Perry Memorial Armory in St. Marys, KS following.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations for Gregorian masses for Tom’s soul.