Matthias “Matth” Toebben, founder of Crescent Springs-based custom home and commercial building group the Toebben Companies, died on Monday. He was 95 years old.
Originally from Germany, Toebben lived through the Second World War as a child and studied woodworking in the city of Börger in the German state of Lower Saxony as a teenager. He came to the United States in 1953 with only $10 dollars in his pocket, according to his obituary. Eventually landing in Northern Kentucky, Toebben took a job as a carpenter for George Kruetzjans, a famous Fort Wright home builder and also a German immigrant. Toebben started his own business in 1955. The same year, he married his wife, LaVerne Huber.
Today, Toebben Companies is among one of the more well-known builders in the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati region, known especially for its custom home builds. Toebben’s craftsmanship as a woodworker became one of the company’s trademarks and selling points.
Toebben Companies has been involved in several big luxury home developments, including the Country Squire Estates development in Villa Hills and the Rivers Pointe Estates development in Hebron. Toebben himself was also behind what became known as the Toebben House on the Holy Cross campus. The building hosts programs for students needing assistance.
Toebben was also active in community, professional and political organizations. He served multiple terms as the president of the local Home Builders Association, was a board member on the Chamber of Commerce and was active in Republican politics. He also engaged in several other business ventures in other economic sectors. He wrote an autobiography called The Immigrant, published in 2019 by Praus Press, about his experiences living through the Second World War and his journey to America.
A visitation for him will take place this Sunday, Aug. 9, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Linnemann Funeral Home in Burlington. A funeral service will take place the following Monday, Aug. 10, starting at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Church in Crescent Springs. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Holy Cross High School Academic Enhancement Program. You can donate online, or mail donations directly to the high school at 3617 Church Street Covington.
You can read his full obituary here. You can also learn more about the history of his companies at toebben.com/home/history-legacy-custom-home-building.
