Staff report
Matthias “Matth.” Toebben, 95, homebuilder, founder of the Toebben Companies and community leader, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Monday, August 3, at St. Elizabeth Hospice Center in Edgewood.
Matth was born on May 16, 1931, in Lorup, Germany to the late Rudolf and Anna Többen.
He immigrated to the United States at the age of 21 and met his wife of 56 years, LaVerne, at a dance.
Communication was a challenge since Matth’s English was limited, but he would later be proud of his “southern accent.”
He studied cabinet making in Germany and his outstanding craftsmanship would later become a trademark for his expertise in homebuilding and the Toebben Companies.
Matth’s immense passion for education and helping others inspired him to create numerous high school and college scholarships throughout the community; he also made generous donations to many local non-profit organizations.
In his free time, he enjoyed hunting, farming, forestry, card playing and spending quality time with his grandchildren.
Matth’s legacy of his upbringing, his struggles and accomplishments were beautifully captured in an autobiography called “The Immigrant” and was one of his proudest achievements. His loving and powerful legacy will always be remembered.
A story in the NKyTribune about “The Immigrant” said “it’s a must-read for its rich history – of a much-loved little boy growing up in Hitler-terrorized Germany who escaped to America and made a big mark on Northern Kentucky.”
The story went on to say:
With $10 in his pocket and hope in his heart, a young man who spoke no English and who had never been far out of the sight of Lorup (his hometown in Hitler-torn Germany), got on a boat (sponsorship papers in his pocket) with his self-crafted wooden suitcase for the arduous journey to America. It was the SS United States. . .
Matth built his considerable homebuilding enterprise on hard work, devotion to quality, savvy business skill, solid common sense – and treating people right. He started with a subdivision on Amsterdam Road then moved to Country Squire Estates when Buttermilk Pike wasn’t much more than a wagon trail. He focused on high-end, made-to-suit custom homes, with emphasis on custom. He built a family enterprise that his sons John and Bill and his grandsons carry on today.
Matth. is preceded in death by his parents, Rudolf and Anna Többen; his loving wife of 56 years, LaVerne Toebben, his son-in-law, Scott Marx; siblings John Toebben, Elisabet Oldopp, Marie Kreutzjans, Rudolf Többen, Anna Moring.
He is survived by his children, Susan Ellison, John Toebben (Dana), Diane Marx, Bill Toebben (Judy), Elizabeth Heist (Tom); his longtime companion, Pat Runge; his sisters, Agnes Wessels and Tekla Rieken; his adored, 18 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Sunday afternoon, August 9, from 4-7 p.m. at Linnemann Funeral Home, 1940 Burlington Pike, Burlington.
Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, August 10, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 2474 Lorraine Ct. Crescent Springs. Private burial to follow.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Matth’s name to Holy Cross High School Academic Enhancement Program (AEP) 3617 Church Street Covington, KY 41015.
See the NKyTribune’s story about Matth Toebben’s book The Immigrant here.