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Kyra McFadden - “Veteran Defeats Cancer 20 Times” [Del Toebben
Veteran Defeats Cancer 20 times
By J1 Reporter Kyra McFadden
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Del Toebben, 91 year young veteran, pilot, and cancer survivor, has no short of unique experiences in his life.
Mr. Toebben has survived cancer close to 20 times. Toebben, born and raised in Arlington, Neb, was a true farm boy and spent most of his early childhood days working in the hot sun, without proper protection. Back then, working on a farm, “you didn’t have sunscreen, so your skin would burn and you’d get very tan. You didn’t take care of your skin at all.”
This led to Toebben having skin cancer, 5-6 spores on his head and 10-15 spores on his back.
However, esophageal cancer had a huge impact on his life. No doctor in Omaha had ever done an espophagectomy or in more simple terms, surgery to remove most or all of your esophagus.
Given six months to live, he worried his luck had run out. At his lowest moment, a savior intervened. A doctor from the University of Michigan was able to perform this life-saving surgery.
Cancer had affected him and his family physically, mentally, and emotionally, especially as cancer runs through his genes. Toebbens father had died of pancreatic cancer and lung cancer took two of his brothers. Toebben gives wise words, “Cancer makes you look at yourself and make sure you’re doing the right things. It makes you evaluate what you want to do.”
Now an esophageal and skin cancer survivor of almost 20 times, Toebben just hopes he’s doing the right thing and more importantly, that God likes it.
Toebben is a two-time University of Nebraska Lincoln business school graduate. After his first graduation from UNL, Toebben was drafted in the army for the Korean War. Arriving in Korea, “I was lucky enough to receive an office job, only 10 miles away from the war” Toebben reflects on his time in service. He spent two years in service before registering for graduate school.
“When you’re in service, you end up having a best buddy.” Toebben’s buddy was New Jersey native Archie Russo. Although Toebben was technically Russo’s superior, they spent all their time together. They had even spent a week together in Japan before returning home to their respective cities.
Toebben kept in contact for about 10 years via Christmas cards, until that dwindled out. One day, Toebben’s son wondered, “What ever happened to Archie?” Toebben’s son searched for Russo until they were able to contact him over the phone. Archie and Toebben had stayed connected to each other by phone calls every couple weeks or months, until “one morning I had woken up and saw an email from Archie’s son.” Archie had died. Toebben now keeps up with Archie’s son by phone every three weeks, to talk about their days and of course, Archie.
In his adult years, Toebben accomplished many things. He opened his own silk screen printing company, a technique where mesh is used to transfer ink onto a substrate. His company had made many advertisements, including a Pizza Hut banner hung in stores. Along with this business, Toebben was a pilot. Piloting was a big part of Toebben’s life as he used it socially and for businesses. From flying for advertisements to flying in coaches for UNL, he loved being a pilot.
Most recently, Toebben had heart surgery. He had an ablation surgery in the upper and lower chamber of his heart because his heart was beating too fast. The ablation surgery burnt nodes that controlled the beat of his heart and put in a pacemaker, which helps his heart beat at a regular pace. Toebben was afraid to have heart surgery, “I was very worked up about it.” Though, the surgery was successful, and he is still learning how to recover. Part of his recovery includes walking outside around his neighborhood circle, of course when the weather allows it.
One admirable thing about Toebben is his 66 year marriage with his wife Phyllis. His wife had also attended UNL, eventually leading up to them meeting in a religious youth group. They had been friends for a while but never dated, until one weekend.
Toebben was enlisted, but he came and visited Lincoln for a weekend. That
weekend he asked her on a date. After his return home from service, Toebben and Phyllis met yet again at a religious peoples group, started dating, and ended up getting married. Toebben says he married his best friend.
Now, Toebben spends his day-to-day life just trying to keep busy. He is an active member of multiple foundation and investment groups. He tries to do things around his house, and of course walking outside.
Del Toebben has a rollercoaster of a life. From surviving cancer almost 20 times to being a pilot, Toebben says “I was blessed growing up around very nice people with good morals and a good religious outlook,” which made a difference in his life.
Del Toebben and his wife Phyllis being recognized for their donations to the Rotary Foundation which supports the promotion of education, disease eradication, and literacy. Photo Source: Rotary Club of Omaha
