Titus F. Jost died on Friday, September 24, 2010 at Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton, Kansas.
He was the eldest child born to Jacob and Marie (Friesen) Jost on April 25, 1917 at home near Lehigh, Kansas. He grew up on the Jost farm located just west of Hillsboro. He graduated from Hope Valley Grade School (8th grade) and attended one year at Hillsboro High School.
Titus accepted Jesus as his savior at a revival meeting. He was baptized by his grandfather, Reverend J. J. Friesen on April 12, 1931. Titus then became a member of the Gnadenau Krimer Mennonite Brethren Church.
During World War II, Titus was drafted and served in the Civilian Public Service. He built mountain roads and did kitchen work in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After marrying Rose Thiessen on May 7, 1943, at Zoar Mennonite Church in Inman, Titus was transferred with Rose to Norristown, PA, where they both served at a mental hospital for nearly three years. The couple first moved to Conway, Kansas to work on the dairy and grain farm of Joe Yoder and then, in 1949, to rural Newton to work for Jake Schowalter. Here they joined the First Mennonite Church in Newton and raised their three sons, Stanley, Gene and Jerrold.
Titus’s youthful dream was to be a farmer. Together with his family, he started a dairy farm in Harvey County and nurtured a herd of registered Holstein cattle. As typical of many farms in the area, wheat, feed grains and forages were integrated into the family business. Titus enjoyed church life, reading, staying in touch with his extended family, breeding cattle, and raising horses. Titus also served with his wife as a contact couple for the Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale.
Titus is survived by his wife, Rose of North Newton, Ks., sons Stanley (Marilyn) of Newton, Gene of Peabody, Ks., and Jerrold (Deborah) of Lawrence, Ks., and grandchildren Lynette, Phillip (Penni), and Eli Jost. He is also survived by his sister, Norma Bergman of Shafter, Calif.
Preceding him in death were his parents and brothers Marvin, Francis and Harry Jost.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday (Oct. 5, 2010) at First Mennonite Church in Newton.
Condolences may be sent to Rose Jost, 3054 Ivy Court, Room 23 West, North Newton, KS 67117-8018.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Mennonite Central Committee or First Mennonite Church Missions. contributions may be sent to Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, Ks. 67114.