Warren Tonsing

Published 12:00 am Thursday, November 5, 2009

The funeral service for Warren (Tony) Tonsing will be held at First Baptist Church, Clarks Grove, at 2:30 p.m. Friday with visitation with the family at 1:30 p.m. The Rev. Roger Davies and the Rev. Jamie Cameron will officiate. Military honors will be accorded by the Alden American Legion Club. Interment will take place at Nashota House Seminary in Delafield, Wis.
Warren was born on March 13, 1923, in Syracuse, Neb., to Henry and Anna (Ehlers) Tonsing. He died on Nov. 3, 2009, at St. Marys Hospital, Rochester.
Tony spent his early years in sports, a four-letter man at Syracuse High School, where he graduated in 1940, later playing for the American Legion and a Yankee Farm Team. He entered the armed forces in the Navy in 1942, and was discharged from the Army Air Corp as staff sergeant in 1945. As a World War II veteran he was a member of the American Legion Post of Alden. Tony worked for the U.S. Postal Service and retired after 24 years of service, but continued working until he was 83. Tony married Sandra on March 24, 1969, and they shared an incredible love for the past 40 years. Tony was a member of First Baptist Church of Clarks Grove.
Tony is survived by his wife, the Rev. Sandra Tonsing; eight children (his, mine and ours): Kathy Dertien and her husband Paul of Jonestown, Texas, David Tonsing and his wife Anna of Korea, Danny Tonsing and his wife Sharon of Humble, Texas, Stephanie Humphrey of Whitmore, Calif., Suzie Zeman of St. Paul, Charles Boyd Vance and his wife Xinia of Florida, Warren F. Tonsing Jr. of Costa Rica and Anna Colby and her husband Eddie of Georgia; 14 grandchildren: Lisa Vargas, Jeannette Gannaway, David Tonsing, Stephanie Ashberger, Michael Tonsing, Summer Thomas, Jennifer Reich, Cydney Gee, Lorelei Roberts, Alicia Nelson, Charles Boyd Vance Jr., Isabella Colby, and Gabriela Colby and many step grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren: Aiden Tonsing, Morgan Tonsing, Kidra Tonsing, Jimmy Tonsing, Michaela Tonsing, Raianna Sahara Thomas, Dezi Flower, Chelsea Patterson, Trenton Reich, Allienna Reich, Jasmine Roberts, Christopher Roberts, Isaiah Roberts, Alexis Roberts, Hailey Nelson, Hannah Nelson and Elijah Nelson; one great-great-grandson: Roman Christian; nephew, Orlin and wife, Sharon Moss of Burr, Neb.; and many great-nieces and great-nephews in the Moss family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother-in-law, Adelia and Julius Moss; nephews, nieces, Vernon Moss, Marjorie Moss, Ardyth and Duane Ronnau; and his daughter, Wendy Renee’ Lehiegh; and great grandson, Christian Patterson.