Memorial Services

Ari Widener Memorial Service December 9, 2017 (died December 5) Note:  I did not know Ari Widener personally, but his parents were special friends of ours during both of our tenures in Wichita.  Russ was head of the Music Department at Wichita State University.  He taught our son Eddie to play the trombone when he was in grade school and served as our church’s choir director after my retirement.  Maggie was in Bible study with Jan for many years.   Obituary:  Ari Alexander Widener was born…

Funeral Service for Judy, Brent, and Hope Beldner November 27, 1996 (died November 23, 24) Note:  Dennis Beldner and his whole family, members of First Free in St. Louis, were on a trip to Florida.  Just a couple of hours out of St. Louis they were in a terrible accident near Marion, Illinois and three members of the family—mother Judy, son Brent, and baby Hope—lost their lives.  Dr. Saba Khalil and I left St. Louis as soon as we heard about the accident…

Bill Howse Funeral Service February 24, 2018 (died February 17) Note:  Bill and Shirley Howse attended First Free Wichita when I was pastor the first time.  Toward the end of my tenure, they moved to the panhandle of Texas, where they owned a huge ranch.  We visited them there while pastoring in St. Louis.  When we returned to Wichita in 2004, we discovered that Bill and Shirley had moved back as well and we renewed our friendship with them. After Shirley died and Bill moved…

Bill York Memorial Service August 10, 2012 (died July 30) Note:  Bill York and his wife Dee came to First Free in St. Louis rather late in our tenure there, but they became very close friends to Jan and me, and they remained so even after we returned to Wichita.  I was pleased to return to St. Louis for his funeral shortly after I retired. Message:  I loved Bill York.  Sadly, I only knew him the last two decades of his life, but almost…

Carol Castelli Funeral Service August 7, 2020 (died on Sunday, August 1) Note:  I met the Castelli family in October of 1972 and they soon became life-long friends.  I was their pastor for ten years in the 70’s and 80’s and again from 2004 until I retired in 2011, but they continued to treat me as their pastor.  I also officiated at Harry’s funeral on October 1 of 2022.   Obituary:  Carol Castelli, 89, loving wife, mother and grandmother and friend of many died August…

Charles Brazeal Funeral November 10, 2008 (died November 6) Note:  In my 50 years of church ministry, no one ministered to me personally as much as Charles Brazeal.  He was the single most supportive lay leader during my two decades in St. Louis, and his death was a huge personal blow, coming as it did less than two years after my father’s passing.   Opening remarks:  We are gathered here today to pay tribute to a very good man, but more than that to…

Dorothy Watkins Funeral April 27, 2018 (died April 19) Note:  Dorothy was the closest thing to a mother I experienced other than my own dear Mother.  She was a widow the entire 50 years I knew her, a godly woman who loved God’s Word like few others.  She also served as receptionist at First Free in Wichita for many years. Welcome:  welcome all of you to this celebration of the life of Dorothy Watkins, a dear mother, grandmother, great grandmother, church member, friend, and…

Doug Schaible Funeral October 16, 2020 (death on October 11) Note:  Doug Schaible and his wife Cheryl, missionaries with New Tribes Mission, became active members of First Evangelical Free Church in Wichita when Doug left tribal work to recruit new missionaries from Bible colleges and seminaries in the states.   Welcome:  I want to welcome you this morning to a celebration of the life of Doug Schaible.  First, let me express the gratitude of the Schaible family for the outpouring of love they have…

Gary Martin Service Monday, February 25 (died February 20, 2013) Note: Gary and Diane Martin were faithful members of First Free Wichita during both of my tenures there.   Obituary:  W. Gary Martin, 71, Allstate Insurance agent, died Feb. 21, 2013. He was preceded in death by father, William H. Martin. Survivors include wife, Diane; sons, Jeff Martin of Wichita and Eric Martin of Milford, NE; mother, Betty Martin of Wichita; grandchildren, Lauren Martin, Carlie Martin, Garrett Martin, Austin Martin and Justin…

George Fooshee Funeral  August 19, 2022 (died on August 12) Note:  George Fooshee was a member of First Evangelical Free Church for over 40 years.  He and his wife Marjean were a tremendous asset to our congregation, discipling and counseling scores of people to become financially free and to walk with Jesus. Obituary:  George Trewitt Fooshee Jr. met his Savior in glory at 92 years old on Friday morning, August 12, 2022.  Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and 13 times adoring great grandfather, left…