Arlene Toht Obituary

Arlene M. Toht, 89, of The Holmstad in Batavia, passed away on August 5, 2011. She was born March 3, 1922 to Edward and Bertha (nee Roskamp) Limkeman at her grandparents' house in Hamilton, Ill. Raised on a farm, she walked across fields to attend a one room school through the eighth grade. After graduating from Hamilton High School in 1941, she moved to Chicago with her cousin, Alta Limkeman, and her aunt, Sal Roskamp. During World War II she worked for Montgomery Ward and the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad. At the Maplewood Baptist Church she met her future husband, Arthur E. Toht. On their first date she and Art agreed to meet under the clock at Marshall Fields on State St. in Chicago's Loop, not realizing there were two clocks on the store. She was sure she had been stood up until Art realized the confusion and rushed to meet her. They married on July 19, 1947 in Sutter, IL, living in Chicago until 1949 when they settled in Wheaton to raise their family. Arlene was an active member of the Glen Ellyn Bible Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher, and youth group leader. Beginning in the 1970s, she worked for Tyndale Publishing Company in Wheaton, IL. She and Art moved to The Holmstad Retirement Community in 1995. Too soon after, Art was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. She lovingly cared for him until his death in 1999. She is sincerely mourned and will be deeply missed. Arlene showed exceptional courage and common sense in facing cancer, which she survived, and coping with the limitations of Macular Degeneration in her later years. She had the gift of hospitality, with a ready welcome and a knack for bringing people together. She was the anchor of her family and beloved by scores of friends. She was the genuine article. She is survived by two sons, David (Rebecca) and Donald (Patty) Toht, daughter Patti (Jim) Horrell; grandchildren, Adam, Betony, and Ben Toht; Ruth and Will Toht, Justin and Kim Beechler; James, David, and Chris Horrell; and great-grandchildren, Eli Arthur Toht, Chris Jr. and Cassandra Horrell, and Theodore Henry Cross-Horrell. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, August 13 at the Holmstad's Ahlstrand Chapel 700 West Fabyan Parkway, Batavia, IL with Rev. Dan Anderson officiating. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Good Samaritan Fund, c/o The Holmstad Retirement Community, 700 West Fabyan Parkway, Batavia, IL 60510 or to Equipping the Saints, 1254 Keezletown Road, Weyers Cave, VA 24486. For information, contact Moss Family Funeral Home 630-879-7900 or www.mossfuneral.com.