Jonathan Toews
Toews in 2010, photo by Debby Wong/Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Jonathan Bryan Toews
Place of Birth: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Date of Birth: April 29, 1988
Ethnicity:
*German (father)
*French-Canadian (mother)
Jonathan Toews is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was a centre with, and team captain of, the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is nicknamed “Captain Serious.”
Jonathan is the son of Andrée Gilbert, a credit union managing director and finance expert, and Bryan Toews, an electrician. His brother, David Toews, is also a professional ice hockey player. His cousin is professional basketball player Kai Toews. His paternal ancestors were Mennonites. They were ethnic Germans from Zaporozhia, Ukraine. His mother is from Sainte-Marie, Québec.
Jonathan’s paternal grandfather was Leonard P. Toews (the son of Cornelius T. Toews and Maria Penner). Leonard was born in Manitoba, Canada. Cornelius was born in Manitoba, the son of Peter B. Toews and Anna B. Toews, who were ethnic Germans, from South Russia. Maria was born in Manitoba, the daughter of Heinrich Penner and Maria Friesen, who were also ethnic Germans, from South Russia.
Jonathan’s paternal grandmother was Mary Norma Reimer (the daughter of Klaas S. Reimer and Sarah K. Dueck). Mary was born in Steinbach, Rural Municipality of Hanover, Manitoba, Canada, and was from a family of ethnic Germans, from Molotschna Colony, South Russia. Klaas was born in Manitoba, the son of Peter W. Reimer and Gottliebe Sharein. Sarah was the daughter of Johann R. Dueck and Margaretha P. Kroeker.
Sources: Genealogy of Jonathan Toews (focusing on his father’s side) – http://reidgen.com
Obituary of Jonathan’s paternal grandfather, Leonard P. Toews – http://passages.winnipegfreepress.com
Obituary of Jonathan’s paternal grandmother, Mary Norma (Reimer) Toews – http://www.birchwoodfuneralchapel.mb.ca
Jonathan Toews’ ancestors were from Zaporozhia, not Bessarabia. They were Russian Mennonites.
There should be a tag for all German-descendants from Russia. Were his forebears from Bessarabia or Volga region?
Uh, I don’t actually remember, but they were Mennonites I think. Possibly from Ukraine, or not. I’ll check it out later when my computer’s on.
Grandparents’ obituaries:
http://passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-details/id-245838/TOEWS_LEONARD
http://www.birchwoodfuneralchapel.mb.ca/?action=obituaries.obit_view&o_id=1238704&fh_id=10687
Paternal grandparents were Leonard Toews and Mary Norma Reimer.
Anyone else here a big NHL fan?
NFL, NHL and MLB are not much popular out of U.S.
Btw being of Irish descent do you like Gaelic sports?
To answer your question not really. On my half Irish side my ancestors left for America 3-4 generations ago so I haven’t learned too much about my Irish heritage/culture and I haven’t even been to the country even though I really wish to go one day. My family comes from Kerry and Cork btw.
I considered you a fake Irish then
I have more of a connection to Ireland than the majority of 40 million fellow Americans that claim Irish heritage. Is it the distance back going back 3-4 generations or that I am only half ethnically that makes you say I am a fake?
speaking of Irish I came across this article. there are more of us Irish Americans than I had thought!
https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/ancestry/dna-tests-irish-american?utm_campaign=Best+of+IC+-+23+Oct+-+2019-10-23&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Mailjet&fbclid=IwAR15f6mXtn8h9HaNMkIS0o6uhrzX4iyUKw8jGnF7Hqtd6GpQppdRAr7bbww