Walter "Wally" John Toedter, 34, died of heart failure on Monday, March 2, 2009, peacefully at his home in Wadena, surrounded by his housemates and staff.
He was born Oct. 14, 1974, at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton, Conn., to Wendel and Lorraine (Kercho) Toedter. He was born with Down's Syndrome and a heart defect. From the beginning he received loving support from his family, church friends, and medical and educational professionals. He attended Seaside Regional Center, Uncasville, Conn., and public schools in Groton, Conn., and Staples, Minn. He moved to Staples in 1981. He survived three life-threatening illnesses and participated in Special Olympics. He was a 1994 graduate of Staples High School. After graduation, he worked at the DAC in Browerville and at the Thread Shed II in Staples. He moved to Elmwood Group Home in Wadena in 2002 and worked at the DAC in Sebeka. He participated in Sunday School, Youth Group, VBS, and served as an usher at Staples Alliance Church. In Wadena he attended the Evangelical Church.
He was a people person with a gift for remembering names and details of people's lives and families. He made friends the world over, as he accompanied family in travels throughout much of the U.S. and a number of countries in Europe. He liked to tease and wrestle his cousins. He enjoyed music, parades, and social activities with friends. He was very proud to be a brother-in-law and of his role as an uncle.
Funeral services were held Monday, March 9 in the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church in Staples with the Rev. Paul Johnson and Mike Picconatto officiating. Interment was in the Thomastown Covenant Cemetery in rural Staples. Pallbearers were Ronald Pond and his cousins. Memorial contributions may be made to ARC, Special Olympics of Minnesota, or Joni and Friends. Arrangements were with the Johnson Memorial Home in Wadena ( www.johnsonmemorialhome.com ).
Survivors include his parents, Wendel and Lorraine Toedter of Staples; sisters, Laura (Paul) Burdo of Brattleboro, Vt., and Andrea (Ron) Pond of Pine Ridge, S.D.; and two nieces and five nephews.
