Antonia "Toni" Lowe

Antonia "Toni" Lowe, 84, of Harwood, Mo., passed away at her home on June 28, 2008. She was born Nov. 5, 1923, in Kiev, Russia, the daughter of Andrea Marveenh and Anna Stpanova Fedorhenko.

Toni was 13 years old when she came home from school one day and was picked up by the Germans. She was put in a railroad boxcar and taken into Germany from the Ukraine by the Black Sea. Toni and her girlfriend escaped the prison camp and were hidden out on a farm until the war ended. At that time she became registered as a displaced person and the American government put these persons temporarily in a camp. While in this camp she met Roy Eugene Lowe at a dance.

Gene and Toni were married in Germany on Sept. 7, 1946. To get married, it cost five gallons of gas for the car, driver and the party that lasted for a couple days.

The newlyweds returned to the United States in March 1947. On their return route they went to Holland by train, then by boat to England to pick up 72 more brides and babies before heading to the U.S.A. After arriving in America, they took a train from New York to St. Louis. From there, they boarded the "Katy" to Harwood.

Toni and Gene spent more than 61 happy years together. For a few years they lived in Kansas City, but most of their life together was spent on the farm near Dederick.

Suvivors include: Her husband, Gene, of the home; three sons, Billy Gene Lowe, of Tongonoxie, Kan., Eddie Dale Lowe, of Walker, Mo. and Jonnie Roy Lowe, of Shawnee, Kan.; and four grandchildren, David, Shelly, Amy and Sam.

A private family viewing was held under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

The following poem expresses Antonia's love to her family:

I am home in Heaven, dear ones; Oh, so happy and so bright!

There is perfect joy and beauty in this everlasting light.

All the pain and grief is over, every restless tossing passed;

I am now at peace forever. Safely home in Heaven at last.

Did you wonder I so calmly trod the valley of the shade?

Oh! But Jesus' love illumined every dark and fearful glade.

And He came Himself to meet me in that way so hard to tread;

And with Jesus' arm to lean on, could I have one doubt or dread?

Then you must not grieve so sorely, for I love you dearly still;

Try to look beyond Earth's shadows, pray to trust our Father's will.

There is work still waiting for you, so you must not idly stand;

Do it now, while life remaineth -- you shall rest in Jesus' land.

When that work is all complete, he will gently call you home;

Oh the rapture of that meeting, Oh, the joy to see you come!

Love,

Momma